Twin was terrified when crocodile dragged her sister under the water while swimming—her unwavering bravery saved her sister

The sisters were on a vacation and swimming in a river when they noticed that the crocodile coming towards them.

PUBLISHED AUG 2, 2025

(L) Two women swimming in a river. (R) A crocodile close to a river. Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Gary Yeowell; Vi Vien Lee

Seeing a loved one in danger gives us immense power to act quickly and save them. A prime example of this kind of bravery was shown by a woman when she saw her twin sister getting dragged under the water by a crocodile as they were swimming in a river. The twins, Georgia and Melissa Laurie, were having a relaxing summer day in 2021 in Mexico when the incident happened. Melissa spotted a crocodile swimming towards them while they were inside the river, Puerto Escondido and warned her sister about it. Georgia reached the bank safely and Melissa was being pulled out of the river when the crocodile came out and started dragging her underwater, per CNN.

Two women getting out of the river after a swim. Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Gary Yeowell

Georgia jumped into the water and fought off the crocodile twice to save her sister from getting dragged away. She found Melissa floating face down in the water and unconscious and tried to revive her before the crocodile came back. She had initially punched the crocodile with one hand and tried to keep her sister's head above the water with her other hand. However, the crocodile returned for a third time and rolled over with Melissa to drown her, but her sister refused to give up. Georgia got bite injuries as she punched the animal for a third time and managed to free her sister.

A crocodile in a river with its mouth open. Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Ayzenstayn

A boat finally got the two of them out of the river, but they were still 25 minutes away from the bank and then another 20 minutes away from the hospital. Melissa still managed to survive during that time. "Fortunately, an ambulance had been called ahead, where it was awaiting our arrival to take us on a further 20-minute journey to Hospital Ángel del Mar," the sisters wrote on their JustGiving page. Melissa arrived at the hospital with quite a few severe injuries. "Melissa sustained a complicated open wrist fracture, severe puncture wounds to the stomach, bowel and intestines and many bite injuries to her leg, foot and glutes." She was put in a medically induced coma, but developed sepsis during that period.

Doctors wheeling a patient through the hospital corridor. Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Reza Estakhrian

"However, we never gave up hope and with determination and incredible medical support, Melissa beat the odds and was strong enough to be woken from her coma, where she has made a full physical recovery." So, three years after the incident, the sisters decided to swim in the River Thames to raise money for charity. The two charities of their choice were PTSD UK and Compañeros En Salud. PTSD UK was formed to spread awareness about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in the sisters' home country and Compañeros En Salud aimed to provide aid and medical training to poor communities in Chiapas, Mexico, where the sisters had been for quite some time before the incident. They managed to raise over 4,000 pounds ($5,266) for the donation drive.

It was a pretty difficult experience for both sisters. "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," Georgia pointed out to CNN. She received the King’s Gallantry Medal award from King Charles III, meant to honor individuals who put their own lives in danger to save other people. "It kind of softens the whole traumatic experience," Georgia added. "She fought for her own life, she clung on," Georgia said, telling the BBC about the incident.