The British backpacker who was rescued from the jaws of a crocodile by her twin sister in Mexico is out of her coma and breathing independently.
Melissa Laurie, 28, developed sepsis from wounds to her leg and has been in a medically induced coma since the attack in the Manialtepec Lagoon.
Her sister Georgia, from Berkshire, rescued the zookeeper by punching the crocodile in the head as it tried to drag her underwater.
Georgia has now spoken for the first time since the attack to say her twin’s condition is improving.
She said: ‘Melissa recognized me and she smiled at me. She’s doing really much better. She’s doing really good.’
Melissa Laurie (left) had been swimming in a lagoon when she was attacked by a crocodile, prompting sister Georgia (right) to wade in after her
This is the rogue tour guide who led British twin sisters Melissa and Georgia Laurie into the jaws of a ten-foot crocodile, leaving one fighting for her life in hospital
Georgia added, in a WhatsApp voice message to her family: ‘She’s been breathing on her own very well.
‘She can’t talk because of the soreness of the tube but she can hear.’
Their mother Sue said: ‘Melissa is off the intubation. She has been brought out the medically induced coma and is breathing for herself. She recognised Georgia. That is really, really good news.
‘We were worried that because we did not know how long she had been under water without oxygen. ‘
It comes as it was revealed a rogue guide led the British sisters into the crocodile infested waters on an unlicensed tour.
The German backpacker, known locally as ‘Richie’, arranged the swimming tour to the Manialtepec Lagoon, 10 miles from Puerto Escondido, where the predator pulled Melissa under water.
Georgia (right) rescued her twin sister Melissa (left) from the jaws of a crocodile in Mexico as they swam in a lagoon
The twins, from Berkshire, were swimming during the day in a lagoon in Mexico – around 10 miles from Puerto Escondido
The sisters were among a group of 25 foreign tourists taken by the unlicensed and inexperienced guide to a part of the lagoon where crocodiles breed and raise their young on Sunday evening.
Richie, who is a backpacker organising unlicensed tours to fund his travelling, agreed to take the twins after meeting them at a hostel in Puerto Escondido, a popular surfing resort.
However due to his ignorance of the lagoon, he took the women into a crocodile nesting area where the reptiles are fiercely protective of their eggs.
He took the sisters on a bioluminescent tour where tourists marvel at the glowing blue plankton-rich waters at twilight are held on the other side of the ten-mile long lagoon.
The German backpacker, known locally as ‘Richie’, organised the swimming tour to the Manialtepec Lagoon
Melissa (left) was attacked by a crocodile which dragged her beneath the water before Georgia (right) repeatedly punched the beast in a bid to save her sister
Melissa was half-drowned and suffered horrific injuries to her arms, legs, face, some of which have become septic. Doctors put her in a medically induced coma to help her recover.
Georgia also suffered extensive bite wounds to her arms and hands. One crocodile bite went through the palm of her hand.
Rogue guide Richie visited the sisters in hospital on Sunday and fled after he saw the extent of their injuries.
The German declined to comment when contacted by MailOnline today [Thursday].
Local wildlife experts believe the sisters may have been attacked by a female crocodile protecting her eggs.
Civil Protection officer Guillermo Silva told Mexico’s ecosdelpacifico.com environmental news website: ‘We were alerted to a report of a crocodile attack on some people.
‘We went to the place where it took place to verify the facts.
‘We found the area where people entered the lagoon and swam upstream for about 200 metres.
‘We could see footprints in the grass where the attack took place.’
‘This is not a tourist area, it is an area that where female crocodiles nest this time of year.
‘It is the rainy season and it makes it easier for crocodiles to nest.
‘It is possible that the attack took place because a nesting crocodile was defending her eggs.’
Licensed tour operator Arturo Venegas confirmed that the area where the sisters went swimming was a well-known crocodile habitat (file image)
His colleague, José Antonio Ramírez, added: ‘We know that there a lot crocodiles in this particular area of the lagoon.’
Licensed tour operator Arturo Venegas confirmed that the area where the sisters went swimming was a well-known crocodile habitat.
He said: ‘We know that this part of the lagoon is frequented by many of these animals.
‘We hear that the sisters went into the water through the weeds and it was there that one of the girls was attacked by the crocodile.’