A BRITISH backpacker saved her identical twin sister from a crocodile’s jaws by punching it in the face.
Georgia Laurie, 28, fended off the predator’s repeated attacks in the dark while dragging unconscious Melissa out of the water in Mexico.
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Zookeeper Melissa was dragged underwater while swimming at night in Manialtepec Lagoon, ten miles from surfing resort Puerto Escondido.
Georgia heard her sister’s cry for help, then found her floating face down on the surface.
As she dragged her twin to safety, the crocodile attacked again and savaged both women.
Georgia fought off the beast with a flurry of punches and swam back to the tour boat on Sunday night.
Melissa is now in an induced coma in hospital while Georgia also suffered bite wounds, their parents said.
Mum Sue Laurie, of Sandhurst, Berks, told MailOnline: “We have twin daughters who are travelling around Mexico who were attacked by a crocodile.
“Melissa is alive, but we don’t know if her injuries are life-threatening or not.
“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 has been put into a medically induced coma.”
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The pair had been on a boat trip to the Manialtepec Lagoon – which is famous for its bioluminescent waters caused by millions of tiny creatures that glow in the dark.
Dad Sean, 63, said that they were swimming after dark in the lagoon when Georgia heard Melissa cry out.
He said: “She called for her but she didn’t reply. She could hear other members of the tour group but not did not hear anything from her sister.
“After several minutes she found Melissa floating face down on the surface. But when she was bringing her back to the boat the crocodile attacked again.
“Georgia had to fight it off. She kept punching it in the head. She suffered lacerations, bite wounds too.”
Swimmers who visit the Manialtepec Lagoon are warned that crocodiles up to ten feet long live there.
But the twins’ father claims they were assured by their tour company that there were no crocodiles in the water.
He said: “The girls asked specifically if it was safe to go swimming and the guide had said it was.”
The twins had been travelling the world together since March and were due to return in November.
But following the ordeal, their parents are now considering flying out to Mexico to bring them home.
A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: “We are supporting the family of two British women who are in hospital in Mexico, and are in contact with the local authorities.”
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