King Charles Pays Tribute To Twin Who Defended Sister By Punching Crocodile's Snout During Harrowing Attack
In recognition of her bravery during a harrowing crocodile encounter in June 2021, a woman has been awarded the prestigious King's Gallantry Medal for her valor in protecting her twin sister.
King Charles paid tribute to Georgia Laurie who rescued her twin, Melissa, from a crocodile assault, honoring her for her bravery and quick thinking.
The incident occurred during a volunteering trip in Puerto Escondido, Mexico, in June 2021. Georgia's valor places her among five individuals recognized with the Medal, as per a news release from the U.K. government's Cabinet Office.
On June 6, the alarming incident unfolded while the sisters and a pair of brothers were swimming in the river. The group, part of a guided river tour in a lagoon area, had joined other tourists for the excursion, according to reports by the BBC.
Melissa, 31, was the first to notice the crocodile approaching, prompting her sister and the brothers to swim towards the safety of the river bank. Unfortunately, just as Georgia was being pulled onto the bank by another member of the excursion, the crocodile seized Melissa.
"We were all calling out for her, but I'm on my own at this point," Georgia shared with U.K. newspaper The Times. "I can't see the brothers, but I can hear them. I'm screaming out for Melissa. 'Where are you? Where's Melissa?' And there's no response ... And I was just thinking, 'I can't leave. How can I live with myself if I leave?' "
After the initial attack, Georgia bravely re-entered the water, where she discovered her sister Melissa unconscious and floating face down. Georgia succeeded in resuscitating her, but their ordeal was far from over as the crocodile returned, biting Melissa's ankle and pulling her away.
During the struggle, Georgia sustained injuries to her hand from the crocodile's bite, while Melissa suffered severe bite wounds to her abdomen, leg, and foot, along with an open wrist fracture, as reported by the BBC.
"It all happened very quickly," she shared with BBC Breakfast. "When I was bitten and dragged under water I thought, 'That's it I'm a goner.' I could feel myself losing grip of our bond when I was on the boat. I was saying, 'Hug me Georgia, hug me I'm dying.' I was biting onto her shoulder to stay connected to her."
Melissa was comforted by her sister's singing during the attack, and after receiving medical care, she made a full recovery.
Both sisters developed PTSD, and they will swim in the Thames Marathon to support PTSD UK.
