Twin who fought a crocodile that attacked her sister on King’s first gallantry list

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A woman who saved her twin sister’s life by punching a crocodile in the face will be honored for her bravery in the King’s first civil gallantry list.

Georgia Laurie, a 31-year-old from Sandhurst, was bitten on the arm as she fought off the reptile, which dragged Melissa underwater and attacked her three times while they were swimming in a lagoon in the Mexican state of Oaxaca in June 2021.

Both women were seriously injured, with Melissa developing sepsis from her wounds, but survived after treatment – and Georgia is now set to be awarded the King’s Gallantry Medal.

“It’s an honor. I was also so shocked when I received the letter because I didn’t see it coming, I didn’t expect it,” Ms Laurie said, adding: “I feel really privileged, it’s a silver lining on the horizon, having emerged from the crisis.” terrible ordeal… it somehow softens the whole traumatic experience.

“It was a good thing not only for me but for the whole family. I feel like I have to share it with my sister because let’s be honest, I don’t think I would have been nominated for this if she hadn’t survived.

“What makes this story so incredible is Melissa’s unwavering courage because she was so strong through it and I don’t think I would be here without her. She really gave me the strength to keep fighting.”

Melissa suffered an open fracture to her wrist, severe stab wounds to her stomach and multiple injuries to her leg and foot, while Georgia was bitten on the hand.

Georgia added: “The further away it gets, the less real it feels.” But then something like that happens and it puts everything into perspective again, like, “Wow, that actually happened, it’s a crazy story.” Because when you think about it If you think about it, it sounds like a horror movie, but it’s a part of our lives, it’s part of the tapestry of our lives.”

This year’s civil gallantry list, which includes nine people, is the first approved by the king, who was crowned on May 6 last year.

Also receiving the medal will be police officer Zach Printer, who confronted gunman Jake Davison unarmed in Plymouth on August 12, 2021, after Davison killed his mother before shooting three-year-old Sophie Martyn, her father Lee, 43, Stephen Washington, 59, and Kate Shepherd, 66.

Mr Printer was attending to Ms Shepherd when he saw Davison carrying the firearm and immediately sprinted towards the 22-year-old, telling him to stop and hoping he could persuade him. But Davison – who had his pump-action shotgun under his own chin – pulled the trigger.

The officer was recognized for his “selfless and courageous actions” in confronting Davison, which prevented further harm to others.

Other recipients of the medal include police officer Steven Denniss, who was stabbed in the leg while arresting an off-duty double murder suspect in Louth, Lincolnshire.

Mr Denniss was walking his dog in Hubbard’s Hills on June 1, 2021, when he spotted Daniel Boulton, wanted for the murder of his 26-year-old former girlfriend Bethany Vincent and her nine-year-old son Darren Henson the previous evening.

Without any protective equipment, Mr Denniss tried to restrain Boulton until colleagues arrived and was stabbed by him while he was on the phone with colleagues.

The officer pursued Boulton until armed officers followed him before the suspect was arrested and later sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 40 years.

Also on the King’s list are Lawrie Elsdon-Dew, who protected others during fierce fighting outside the British Embassy in Sudan in April 2023, and Stacey Farrington and Jake Walker, who drove an ambulance to a speeding car traveling in the wrong direction Stopped on the highway.

The King’s Commendation for Bravery was awarded to Stephen Ellison, who rescued a stranger from a river in Chongqing, China, in November 2020.

Chhaganlal Jagaita, who helped people escape a burning hotel in Mati, Greece in July 2018, and Paul Martin, who intervened in a knife attack in April 2021, also receive recognition.

Honorees on the late Queen’s final civilian gallantry list included five people – Steven Gallant, John Crilly, Darryn Frost and Lukasz Koczocik – who fought with Fishmonger’s Hall terrorist Usman Khan in November 2019, and Adam Roberts, who risked his life , to protect one of the wounded victims.

Additional reporting by PA