Twin who fought off crocodile to save her sister receives royal bravery award

A British woman who fought off a crocodile to save her twin sister has been acknowledged for her extraordinary act of bravery.

British twin sisters Georgia and Melissa Laurie were enjoying a hot June day in Mexico on holiday three years ago, swimming in a river in Puerto Escondido, when Melissa spotted a crocodile in the water close by, panic set in and they began desperately swimming away. Georgia reached the bank, but as Melissa was being pulled up onto it by another member of the group the crocodile reappeared and dragged her under the water. Georgia, now 31, plunged into the water and twice fought off the reptile to save her twin sister, an extraordinary act of bravery for which she is now receiving the King’s Gallantry Medal. The award from King Charles III recognizes acts in which civilians put themselves at risk in an attempt to save someone else. It is a “silver lining to have come out of the terrible ordeal,” Georgia told the UK’s PA Media news agency. “It kind of softens the whole traumatic experience.” “What’s made this story so incredible is Melissa’s unwavering bravery throughout it all because she was so strong during it and I don’t think I would be here without her, she really gave me the strength to keep fighting,” she added. For both sisters, the scars from that day still linger. Georgia initially found Melissa floating unconscious face down in the water and revived her before the crocodile returned and attacked again, according to a Tuesday press release from the UK Cabinet Office.