A woman who saved her twin sister’s life by punching a crocodile in the face will be honoured for her bravery in the King’s first Civilian Gallantry List, LBC reports.
Georgia Laurie, 31, saved her sister Melissa from a crocodile attack on holiday in Mexico in 2021. She stabbed the attacking crocodile with a knife, but it continued to attack. She continued to struggle until she was finally rescued along with her sister. Both Berkshire twins got seriously injures, but a specialist doctor who happened to be nearby saved Melissa. Georgia will now receive the Royal Medal of Honour, which recognises exemplary acts of bravery.
Ms. Laurie said:
It’s an honour, I was so shocked as well when I received the letter because I didn’t see it coming, I didn’t expect it. I feel really privileged, it’s a silver lining to have come out of the terrible ordeal… it kind of softens the whole traumatic experience. It’s been a good thing for not just me but for the whole family, I feel like I have to share it with my sister because let’s face it I don’t think I would have been nominated for it if she didn’t survive. 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.
The sisters went to hospital after the incident. Georgia suffered injuries to her hands and Melissa was in a medically induced coma to prevent her injuries from becoming infected. Both made a full recovery, but had mental health issues in the years that followed.
The sisters were volunteering with animals in the village and had gone for a swim on their break when they the accident happened.
Describing her struggle with the crocodile, Georgia told the Times newspaper:
I was like in a bubble. All my senses were heightened, but it was just me and my fight with the crocodile. By this point, I was knee-deep in water and I was just punching the crocodile in the snout, hammering it with my fists, trying to hold Melissa down and keep her up. I’d heard that if you punched a shark on the nose it could deter it. It seemed to work and I’ve done some research since which shows that they have black dots on their snouts which are really sensitive. It bit her glutes. By now I was tired like you wouldn’t believe but she gave me the strength to fight when I felt like there was literally no strength left in me. I drew such deep strength from somewhere, from her, from my love for Melissa and eventually the crocodile moved off.
This year’s Civilian Gallantry List includes nine people. Police officer Zach Printer, who confronted armed Jake Davison unarmed in Keyham, Plymouth, on 12 August 2021, will also receive the medal.
The award will also go to police officer Steven Denniss. He suffered a serious leg wound while apprehending a double murder suspect while on duty in Louth, Lincolnshire, on 1 June 2021.
The list also includes Lawrie Elsdon-Dew, who protected others during fierce fighting outside the British Embassy in Sudan in April 2023. Stacey Farrington and Jake Walker, who stopped a car travelling at speed on the wrong side of the motorway using an ambulance, will also receive an award.
The King’s Commendation for Bravery was awarded to Stephen Ellison who rescued a stranger from a river in China in 2020.
On the list of honorees, we’ll also see Chhaganlal Jagaita, who helped people escape a burning hotel in Mati, Greece, in July 2018, and Paul Martin, who intervened during a knife attack on 14 April 2021.
