At 24, Australian Turia Pitt had it all: a successful career, a loving partner, and beauty.
Her life took a dramatic turn on September 2, 2011, when she nearly lost her life in a devastating fire. However, Turia not only survived the ordeal but went on to improve the quality of her life.
The fire occurred during the RacingThePlanet event, where competitors were only able to cover a quarter of the distance before nearby grass and bushes caught fire. While fires are common in Australia at that time of year, the organizers failed to take necessary safety precautions, and several athletes, including Turia, were engulfed in flames.
Before the catastrophe, Turia had a promising career. She was a contestant in the Miss Australia competition, worked as a model, and was employed as a mining engineer at a diamond mine. She was also in a relationship with Michael, her high school classmate.
She recalled living the life of her dreams, but in an instant, everything changed. During her painful recovery in the hospital, she questioned why doctors had saved her life.
Turia spent a total of 864 days in hospitals, undergoing over 200 procedures, including one to reconstruct her severely burned nose. Sadly, five of her fingers had to be amputated.
As her injuries gradually healed, Turia found it difficult to leave the house, feeling self-conscious about her disfigured hands and face, worried they would draw unwanted attention.
