Georgia Laurie, 33, punched a crocodile in the jaw to save her twin sister Melissa from certain death during a trip to Mexico – and the pair are now leading a campaign to help save the reptiles
A pair of British twins who fought off crocodiles to save their lives have backed a new conservation project to help save the species that attacked them.
Georgia Laurie, 33, from Sandhurst, Berkshire, leapt in to punch a crocodile when it tried to drag her sister Melissa underwater while they took a dip in a river while travelling Mexico back in 2021.
Her quick thinking saved her twin’s life, though the ordeal was followed by a touch-and-go stay in hospital after Melissa contracted sepsis from wounds to her stomach and legs.
Just over three years later, Georgia was given a royal bravery award from King Charles with Melissa at her side – and now, the pair are backing a non-profit organisation in Belize that aims to reverse the shrinking population of the species.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast from the Crocodile Research Coalition in Belize, Georgia said “It’s such a weird feeling. I can’t believe that we are here now.
“We have come so far in our healing journey. [Trauma is] a very difficult thing for anyone to go through.
“If you are going through it, please know there is a light at the end of the tunnel and that you can do these positive things after that.”
The CRC is primarily focused on protecting the American Crocodile, the same species that attacked the sisters, and Morelet’s Crocodile, both of which are under threat from pollution and habitat destruction.
Georgia and Melissa on a holiday in Mexico in June 2021 with her twin sister and a group, when a guide wrongly informed them that they could safely swim in a river off the Manialtepec Lagoon in Puerto Escondido.
While Melissa was swimming, her sister spotted a crocodile also in the water around 15 metres away, and urged them to swim for safety.
As they swam from the scene and Melissa grabbed onto an outstretched arm from another group member on the river bank, the crocodile snatched her arm – and pulled her into thick mangroves.
After a frantic few minutes of searching, Georgia found her in the shrubs and managed to revive her – but just as she tried to rescue her, the crocodile attacked her again, biting her by the ankle and dragging her away.
She fought off the crocodile by punching it on the nose with one fist, and shielding Melissa’s head in her other hand.
It gave Georgia a few moments to take her to a more secluded area to tend to her wounds – but the reptile then returned for one final attack, death-rolling Melissa by violently locking its jaws and spinning her around.
The ensuing struggle left Georgia with her own injuries as she wrenched her sister out of the crocodile’s jaws, while her sister survived with an open fracture to her wrist, severe puncture wounds to the abdomen and multiple injuries to her leg and foot, fighting off sepsis in a Mexican hospital.
Georgia received a King’s Gallantry Medal in December 2024, awarded to those who risk their own lives to save or protect others from extreme danger.
