Medals for the woman who fought the crocodile and the PC who faced a gun

A woman who saved her twin sister from a crocodile attack is to receive a bravery honor after being included in the King’s first civilian gallantry list. Georgia Laurie, 31, from Sandhurst in Berkshire, hit the reptile in the face when it attacked her twin Melissa while they were in Mexico in June 2021.

Both women were seriously injured but survived after treatment, and Georgia will now receive the King’s Gallantry Medal, which recognizes exemplary acts of bravery. Ms Laurie said: “It’s an honour, I was so shocked when I got the letter too because I didn’t see it coming, I didn’t expect it.”

She continued: “I feel really privileged, it’s a silver lining to have come out of this terrible ordeal… it kind of softens the whole traumatic experience. It was a good thing not just for me but for the whole family, I feel like I have to share it with my sister because let’s face it I don’t think I would have been nominated for this if she hadn’t survived.

“What made this story so incredible is Melissa’s unwavering courage throughout it, because she was so strong in her time and I don’t think I would be here without her, she really gave me the strength to to keep fighting.”

The twins were swimming in a lagoon near Puerto Escondido when Melissa was dragged under the water. Melissa survived with an open fractured wrist, severe abdominal injuries and multiple injuries to her leg and foot, while Georgia was bitten on the hand.

Georgia added: “The further away it gets, the less real it feels. But then something like this happens and it puts everything back into perspective, like wow, that really happened, it’s a crazy story.

“Because when you think about it, it sounds like a horror movie, but it’s part of our lives, it’s part of the tapestry of our lives.”

He will also receive the medal from Pc Zach Printer, who confronted him unarmed on 12 August 2021 in Keyham, Plymouth, on the Jake Davison gun. Davison killed his mother Maxine, 51, then shot three-year-old Sophie Martyn, her father Lee, 43, Stephen Washington, 59 years, and Kate Shepherd, aged 66.

Pc Printer was tending to Ms Shepherd when he saw Davison carrying the firearm, immediately sprinting towards the 22-year-old, telling him to stay still in the hope he could turn him away. Davison — who had the pump-action rifle positioned under his chin — pulled the trigger and fell to the ground.

The officer was recognized for his “selfless and brave actions” while confronting Davison, which prevented further harm to others. Other recipients include PC Steven Denniss, who was stabbed in the leg while apprehending a double murder suspect while off-duty in Louth, Lincolnshire, on 1 June 2021.

Pc Denniss was walking his dog at Hubbard’s Hills when he saw Daniel Boulton, who was wanted for the murders of his ex-girlfriend Bethany Vincent, 26, and her nine-year-old son Darren Henson the previous evening. Without any protective equipment, PC Denniss tried to restrain Boulton until colleagues arrived and was stabbed by him while on the phone to the police.

The officer chased Boulton until he was joined by armed officers before the suspect was arrested and later charged and jailed for life with a minimum sentence of 40 years. This year’s Civil Gallantry List, which includes nine people, is the first approved by the King.

Also on the list are Lawrie Elsdon-Dew, for protecting others during fierce fighting outside the British embassy in Sudan in April 2023, and Stacey Farrington and Jake Walker, who stopped a speeding car on a motorway , using an ambulance. The King’s Commendation for Bravery goes to Stephen Ellison, who rescued a foreigner from a river in Chongqing, China in November 2020.

Chhaganlal Jagaita, who helped people out of a burning hotel in Mati, Greece, in July 2018, and Paul Martin, who intervened during a knife attack on April 14, 2021, were also recognized. Mr Jagaita, 81, from Egham, Surrey, told the PA: “Receiving this will be wonderful for me and my family, I didn’t expect it.”

Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden said: “It’s impossible not to be moved by the stories of those receiving gallantry awards today. Their acts of bravery saved lives in impossible circumstances. I congratulate them for what they have done and I congratulate them for receiving this honor.”