Georgia and Melissa Laurie - Crocodile Attack

**UPDATE 12pm 9th June** 

Georgia has been discharged from the hospital and remains nearby to continue with dressing changes and treatment etc. She has told us she went to see Melissa before she left and it was really hard. Mel is very bruised, has two black eyes and deep cuts to her face, torso and leg where the crocodile has bitten and scratched her. 

There's currently no change in information for Melissa's condition which remains "delicate", but we think stable. We wait to see how she reacts and recovers over the coming days.

We have been very lucky and appreciative of the community efforts to find us solutions to some of the logistical issues we're facing. As it stands there're plans for our Dad (Sean) to travel with British Airways to Mexico in the coming days, and we've been linked with a fantastic Dr Esteban Bolanos who has given up his time to help us communicate with the hospital/Melissa's team.

The press attention remains intense, and I'm formulating a plan to get to everyone... but at the moment we do request the basic courtesy of not nagging, turning up at our houses or bombarding us with calls and messages. We need our phones and emails to communicate with friends and to sort logistics and it's making it that bit more difficult. Thank you. 

**UPDATE 9pm 8th June** 

Wow, thank you everyone. From the very swampy pits of our anxiety ridden hearts thank you! Today we managed to speak to Georgia again, and saw some photos of her right hand/wrist - not for dinner time viewing... we have spoken to a doctor now and have a little more info on Mel's condition but it's very much a wait and see game still. The next 2-5 days will be key but luckily she's cut from the same jib as a CrocodilePuncher.

We still don't really have an idea of how long Melissa will be in the hospital and the rate of her hopeful recovery or treatment, but we do now know that Georgia will be discharged in the next day or so. With this in mind, and having had a "so far" estimate on costs from the hospital, and a few other factors, we've made the call to lower the target amount for now.

We'd hate to ask for more than we need, as so many people have been so so incredibly generous and there are a million and one other deserving people. I hope to speak again with my sister tomorrow afternoon, and my parents and I will continue to do everything we can here and arrange to get Mum and Dad over to support them out of hospital before they can continue living life properly! 

Again, thank you thank you thank you. <3 Good humans. 

***

My name is Hana Laurie, I'm the older sister of Georgia and Melissa Laurie who've found themselves victim of a crocodile attack while travelling and volunteering in Mexico. 

My sisters were taking a break from their ambitions to scuba dive and work with animals when they took a trip with a guide recommended by their hostel near Puerto Escondido, in Mexico. It's still unclear exactly where they were, but a crocodile attacked the group and viciously bit and shook Melissa. It has since transpired that this guide was known locally to be operating in an unlicensed and illegal way, but since is nowhere to be found.

We are so lucky that Georgia was there, and had immediate reaction through her water rescue training to fight off the crocodile and drag Mel to safety. Georgia punched the crocodile repeatedly as it came back three times to attack, while friends of theirs went to get help. 

The details of this awful ordeal are still not fully known to us, as the time difference, language barrier and the fact they're both admitted to hospital are making it very difficult to communicate. What is clear, is that Mel's condition is "delicate" having suffered an open wrist fracture, organ lacerations/internal bleeding and water on her lungs. Doctors are very concerned that she'll contract an infection (as they are too about Georgia's wounds) and have put them both on intravenous antibiotics. Melissa has been placed into a medically induced coma, and remains in that condition while doctors attempt to drain fluid and enable her to breathe on her own. 

My family are overwhelmed with pride that Georgia managed to take the brave action she did, but now are faced with the difficulty of travelling to Mexico to support them and pay for their medical care. There as yet isn't clarification on how much we'll need, but already it feels very overwhelming. 

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.