Grandmother Jackie Leek has formed an extraordinary bond with a giant tortoise named Mr Miyagi, who accompanies her everywhere – even to the pub.
Jackie, 58, purchased the African sulcata tortoise for companionship while recovering from cancer 18 months ago. Since then, the duo have been inseparable, with Jackie taking the eight-year-old tortoise on caravan holidays and regular beach walks.
Mr Miyagi weighs approximately three stone (19kg) and is projected to reach around 10 stone (63kg) as he matures. Given his potential lifespan of 120 years, Jackie has established a trust fund to ensure his care after she’s gone.
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Despite his considerable size, Jackie brings him along wherever possible, noting that people often “abandon their cars” to request a photo with Mr Miyagi.
(Image: Jackie Leek / SWNS)
She said: “I open the door and he just follows me down the drive and onto the estate, where we live. He will just follow me and we have little walks. People will abandon their cars when they see us, they will stop and ask if he’s real and if they can touch him. I take him to the beach and there’s a little quiet bit where I take him.
“But I went there on a Bank Holiday Monday and before I knew it, we were surrounded by people and everyone was having a photo shoot with him – it was mad. People always do double turns, I once had eight cars all stop in the road and everyone got out of their vehicles. People also can’t believe how heavy he is.”
Jackie from Warrington, Cheshire, was diagnosed with myeloma, a type of blood cancer that originates in the bone marrow, and breast cancer about four years ago. Following her radiotherapy treatment, she often felt isolated and decided to buy a tortoise named Thor from a pet shop for companionship.
Jackie would frequently take Thor for walks in a pram, but sadly, he passed away three years after she first got him.
(Image: William Lailey / SWNS)
The mother of two then chose to adopt Mr Miyagi.
Jackie admitted: “I never had an interest in reptiles or tortoises ever – I’m terrified of snakes. I never thought I would get a tortoise.”
She credits Mr Miyagi with providing significant emotional support, saying, “He helps me loads, I do have some dark days. I’m getting stronger after my diagnosis but Mr Miyagi is helping me.”
Mr Miyagi enjoys a diet of romaine lettuce and dandelions, with occasional treats of green beans, strawberries, and tomatoes. He also likes lounging in a children’s sandpit filled with water.
(Image: William Lailey / SWNS)
However, he has been known to “re-arrange the furniture” when Jackie leaves the house. The former nurse said: “He takes himself off to bed at around 5pm and he will sleep until 8am unless I get up and he hears me in the kitchen.
“Before I do anything, I get a children’s sand pit and he stands next to me while I fill it with hot water and my partner lifts him into the bath.
“He can be there anytime from ten minutes to three hours and I just keep warming it up and he will poo in there, because that’s what they do.
“He will let me know when he’s had enough and he will then go in the garden or he will climb in his dog bed.
(Image: William Lailey / SWNS)
“He’s dead gentle and will sit on my slippers.
“If we leave him alone in the house, then you think we would have been burgled because he re-arranges the furniture.”
African sulcata tortoises often live until they are 120-years-old, but some have been known to survive for even longer.
Jackie has a trust fund set up for Mr Miyagi, so whoever takes care of him after she passes away, will be able to afford it.
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