The elder sister of a woman who punched a crocodile to save her twin from being attacked says she is 'very proud' of her actions.
Twins Melissa and Georgia Laurie, 28, from Berkshire, were swimming in Manialtepec Lagoon, 450 miles south-east of Mexico City, when Melissa was attacked by a crocodile.
To save her twin sister, Georgia punched the crocodile to get it off her. Melissa, a zookeeper, was left needing to be put in a medically induced coma to stop her injuries becoming infected, while Georgia had injuries to her hands.
Both sisters are still recovering in hospital and have been given heavy doses of intravenous antibiotics.
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The twins' mother, Sue Laurie told MailOnline: "We have twin daughters who are travelling around Mexico were attacked by a crocodile last night.
"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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Hana Laurie, 33, the twins' older sister, said that Georgia fought the crocodile three times.
She told PA: "I felt really proud of her, very proud of her.
"Georgia's OK, she's tired, she's really stressed. I think she's really frightened but she is awake and has got some wounds on her hands. Melissa's still in an induced coma."
Hana explained that when the family found out what had happened, they were in disbelief. She added that the event was 'so unusual', that they 'didn't believe it could happen to them'.
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The BBC reported that experienced diver Georgia found Melissa unresponsive, and tried to get her back to a boat.
Hana said: "She dragged her back as the crocodile kept coming back for more - so she just started hitting it.
"She'd heard that with some animals, that's what you've got to do."
According to the twins' older sister, Melissa and Georgia had booked a tour through their hostel.
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But later they found that their guide wasn't registered and the women had been taken to a swimming spot that wasn't usually recommended.
Hana said: "He's an unlicensed tour guide and according to someone on a Mexican Facebook page he's been doing it for a while, doing illegal tours in unsafe, unregistered areas.
"He's gone to where the crocodiles live and not the location where all legal certified sanctioned tours take place. He has been called out locally before, apparently, but that wasn't for my sisters to know.
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"They found out the information through their hospital."
The family are now trying to work out how to get the sisters back and are unsure if the insurance they had covers their medical bills.
A spokeswoman for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office 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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