Sisters from Berkshire attacked by crocodile in Mexico
They were swimming in lagoon when the attack happened
Last updated 8th Jun 2021
Two sisters from Berkshire have been hospitalised in Mexico after being attacked by a crocodile while swimming in a lagoon.
The Daily Mail reports 28-year-old Melissa Laurie and her twin sister Georgia, both from Sandhurst, were swimming at night in Manialtepec Lagoon, near the popular tourist town Puerto Escondido about 450 miles south-east of Mexico City, when a crocodile dragged Melissa under the water.
The women's father Sean Laurie told the paper Georgia, a diver who has life-saving experience, found Melissa face-down in the water several minutes later.
He said Georgia tried to bring Melissa back to their boat but the crocodile attacked again.
Mr Laurie said: Georgia had to fight it off. She kept punching it in the head.''
Their mother Sue Laurie said both sisters were rushed to hospital suffering bite injuries, with Melissa placed into a medically-induced coma.
Mrs Laurie said: Melissa is alive, but we don't know if her injuries are life-threatening or not.
She has water on her lungs and she has been coughing up blood. So we don't know if she has a punctured lung or not.''
Mr Laurie told the paper the sisters, who had been backpacking around the world, were visiting the lagoon with a tour company and their guide had assured them the water was safe to swim in.
The twins’ elder sister, Hana Laurie, 33, told the PA news agency Georgia fought off the crocodile three times.
“I felt really proud of her, very proud of her,” she said.
“Georgia’s OK, she’s tired, she’s really stressed. I think she’s really frightened but she is awake and has got some wounds on her hands. Melissa’s still in an induced coma.”
Hana said the family were in disbelief when they found out what happened, adding that the event was “so unusual, and so rare” that they “didn’t believe it could happen to them”.
The twins’ elder sister said the pair had booked a tour with a guide through their hostel and the women found out later their tour guide was not registered and had taken them to swimming spot which was not recommended.
“He’s an unlicensed tour guide and according to someone on a Mexican Facebook page he’s been doing it for a while, doing illegal tours in unsafe, unregistered areas,” Hana said.
“He’s gone to where the crocodiles live and not the location where all legal certified sanctioned tours take place. He has been called out locally before, apparently, but that wasn’t for my sisters to know. They found out the information through their hospital.”
The Daily Mail says the parents are now weighing up whether they need to fly out to Mexico to bring their daughters back to England.
A spokeswoman for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office said: We are supporting the family of two British women who are in hospital in Mexico, and are in contact with the local authorities.''