British woman in coma after crocodile attack in Mexico

According to their relatives, Melissa and Georgia Laurie, 28, were swimming at night in a lagoon 10 miles from the tourist town of Puerto Escondido when the attack occurred.

Sue Laurie of Sandhurst, Berkshire, the women’s mother, said Melissa, a zookeeper, remained in a medically induced coma.

“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,” she told Mail Online.

Melissa was pulled underneath the water by the crocodile and rescued minutes later by her sister, but the pair was assaulted again as they approached their boat, according to the family.

The duo were on a group excursion to the Manialtepec Lagoon, which is famous for its bioluminescent plankton, which glows bright blue and green.

Nocturnal boat cruises to the lagoon are extremely popular, but swimmers should be aware that the area is inhabited by crocodiles.

However, Sean, the twins’ father, stated that the girls were advised by their tour operator that swimming in the ocean was safe.

When the initial attack occurred, Georgia, an accomplished diver, heard her sister scream out and boldly descended beneath the surface to locate her.

According to Mr Laurie, a 63-year-old business consultant, she discovered her floating face-down some minutes later.

However, as she walked back to the boat with her sister, the crocodile struck again.

“Georgia had to fight it off. She kept punching it in the head. She suffered lacerations, bite wounds too,” Mr Laurie told Mail Online. “It was only because she is a diver and has life-saving experience that she was able to save her.”

The sisters left the UK in March to backpack around the world, intending to return in November.

Mr and Mrs Laurie are now debating whether to travel to Mexico, which is on the UK’s amber list, in order to repatriate them.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman told The Telegraph: “We are supporting the family of two British women who are in hospital in Mexico, and are in contact with the local authorities.”

As reported by The Telegraph

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