A British backpacker who was rescued from the jaws of a crocodile in Mexico by her twin sister has developed sepsis from her wounds.
Melissa Laurie, 28, from Berkshire, was dragged underwater by the ten-foot-long reptile that attacked her and sister Georgia as they swam in a lagoon during a wildlife tour on the Pacific west coast.
Georgia, who fought off the crocodile, has now visited Melissa’s hospital bedside for the first time where the zookeeper is in a medically induced coma.
Georgia Laurie (right) rescued her twin sister Melissa (left) from the jaws of a crocodile in Mexico as they swam in a lagoon
Georgia, who fought off the crocodile, has now visited Melissa’s hospital bedside for the first time where the zookeeper is in a medically induced coma (file image)
Melissa was put into a terrifying death roll as the crocodile tried to drown her before Georgia, an experienced diver, fought off three attacks by punching the predator repeatedly in the head.
The pair was rushed to hospital in the surfing resort of Puerto Escondido on Sunday where Melissa was put in an induced coma to help treat her horrific injuries which include extensive bite wounds and a suspected punctured lung.
Georgia, who was severely bitten on her arms and hands, was released from hospital on Tuesday night and was able to visit her twin for the first time since the horrific crocodile attack.
Their older sister Hana told the BBC that bite wounds to Melissa’s stomach and legs had become infected, saying the situation was ‘still really serious’ and ‘we’re not relaxing yet’.
The twins had been assured it was safe for them to swim in the water ten miles from the surfing resort of Puerto Escondido (above)
Melissa (left), a zookeeper, was saved from certain death by her sister who bravely entered the water to look for her
She added: ‘She has now developed sepsis.’
Sepsis occurs due to an overreaction of the body’s immune response to an infection.
The girls’ father Sean Laurie told MailOnline: ‘Georgia has been released from hospital and has been able to visit Melissa for the first time.
‘She found it quite upsetting.
‘Georgia was not able to talk to her because Melissa is still intubated and in a medically induced coma.
The twins’ parents, Sue and Sean Laurie, said both their daughters had bite injuries from the predator
‘She now knows the extent of her sister’s injuries.
‘Melissa has lacerations to her face, black eyes, as well as lacerations to her body. Her legs are quite badly injured too – all bite injuries.’
The 63-year-old business consultant from Berkshire added: ‘Georgia’s injuries are not as bad but they are still substantial.
‘She has tooth marks on her skin.
‘The crocodile bit straight through the palm of her hand.
‘Her wrist is bad. She is lucky the bite did not penetrate an artery.’
The twins, who were volunteering with animals in the country and had been taking a break when the crocodile attacked, were lead to the lagoon by an ‘unlicensed tour guide’
It has now emerged that the twins were taken on an illegal tour of a part of the Manialtepec Lagoon, which is renowned for the natural phenomenon of bioluminescence, by a rogue guide who has now fled the resort.
Melissa and Georgia Laurie, pictured as schoolchildren, had been on a dream trip to Mexico
Twins Melissa and Georgia Laurie, now both 28, when they were babies dressed in identical clothing
Mr Laurie is hoping to travel to Mexico to support Georgia and help bring Melissa home.
A GoFundMe page set up by the twin’s older sister Hana to pay for medical bills has raised more than £28,000 and is rising.
Hana Laurie has asked for financial assistance to overcome the ‘difficulty of travelling to Mexico to support them and pay for their medical care’
The appeal, entitled ‘Georgia and Melissa Laurie – Crocodile Attack’ states:
‘Due to the tour guide being disreputable, Covid-19 and a general struggle to be clear on paperwork at this time, we humbly and sincerely ask for any help anyone can spare.
‘Mel and Georgia are in real need of their parents, and the most amazing medical assistance we can get to turn this awful accident away from tragedy.’