With her incredibly refreshing personality and upbeat outlook on life it’s easy to forget the hardships Turia Pitt has been through.
But the positive 28-year-old is the last person you’ll ever hear complaining or pandering for sympathy.
Despite her horrific brush with death back in 2011, which saw her suffer burns to 65 per cent of her body, lose several fingers and spend a gruelling five months in hospital after she was trapped in a grassfire during a 100 kilometre ultra-marathon in the Kimberleys, Turia has one of the most optimistic attitudes you’ll ever come across.
In fact, this remarkable woman has simply grabbed life with both hands, soldiered on with business and kicked some spectacular goals while she’s at it.
From her awesome charity work to her superwoman-level of fitness, Turia’s determination continues to leave us in awe.
“I know it’s hard to say I’m lucky, but I am lucky cause the situation could have been a lot worse,” she told 60 Minutes in 2012 when reflecting on her life-changing accident.
Turia has shared her story of survival and has since gone on to be awarded the NSW Premier’s Woman of the Year in 2014. That same year, she was also a state finalist for Young Australian of the Year. On top of that, she has raised thousands of dollars for organisations like Interplast and DonateLife.
As she embarks on her next exciting challenge – the 2016 Melbourne Iron Man – we check out Turia’s most inspirational moments!
Turia has carved out an extremely successful career as a motivational speaker, sharing her story of survival has inspired thousands of people.
Her story has captivated the nation and helped others. “Once a lady wrote to me and she said that because of my story, she stopped smoking cigarettes. Isn’t that cool? That’s a really small thing, but I think that’s also a pretty powerful thing that I’m able to impact on people’s lives in such a positive way,” she told The Glow.
Following the catastrophic 2011 fire (inset) Turia, pictured with 60 Minutes‘ Michael Usher, has undergone extensive surgery but refuses to be labelled a victim.
Humble and happy doesn’t even begin to describe her! “I’ve got an amazing partner, beautiful family and friends. I live in one of the best places in Australia in Ulladulla. So when people say they feel sorry for me, I don’t really get it. I don’t feel sorry for myself at all,” the mining engineer explained to the ABC.
“He [gave up] work to take care of me. He’d been taught how to change my dressings and feed me, and he knew exactly when I had to take each of my pills.”
“We built a new life. Never once did Michael treat me differently. He was in love with my personality before, and that’s something I’ve still got.”
Indeed, for this loving young couple their priorities are far beyond the superficial. As Turia so wonderfully put it to AWW last year, “For me, it sends the message that confidence equals beauty. There are a lot of women out there who are so beautiful but don’t have the confidence, and that’s what gets you over the line.”
She’s the ultimate fighter! “I’ve had to claw my way back into life – learn to walk, to talk. All the things I had taken for granted before became seemingly impossible tasks.”
The humanitarian has done way more than claw her way back into life, she’s conquered some of the world’s highest points – literally!
From the Great Wall of China to the Inca Trail, this unstoppable woman is a true force to be reckoned with. What’s even more amazing is the fact that every overseas journey she embarks on is always raising money for worthy causes.
Turia works hard for each and every expedition – not just physically! The author campaigns vigorously for a range of charities, including Interplast – a not-for-profit organisation which provides free reconstructive surgery for people who have suffered from cleft palates or burns around the globe.
In April, she threw a fundraising charity gala for Interplast and raised much-needed proceeds for the organisation.
She has shown us that anything is possible if you put your mind to it.
This year, the athlete achieved yet another massive goal – getting back on her surfboard!
“It’s taken me four years but FINALLY I’m back doing what I love,” she exclaimed of the accomplishment via Instagram.
Throughout it all, Turia’s adoring mum Celestine has been there every step of the way. The pair share an unbreakable mother-daughter bond.
In March this year, the philanthropist inspired us with another milestone – undergoing reconstructive surgery to give her a new nose. To celebrate Turia and Celestine shared a very special moment with Woman’s Day – their first Tahitian-style kiss since the operation.
“I’ve done this with her since she was a little girl. You are passing energy – the ‘mana’ – from me to her,” Celestine, who moved to Australia from Tahiti when Turia was 8 months old, told Woman’s Day.
Her ambition and drive is further fuelled by her wonderful support network. “Doctors said I couldn’t run – that’s when I decided I wanted to do an Ironman! Most people would say, ‘Well you won’t be able to, I’m sorry’, but Michael and Mum were like, ‘That’s a great idea. Let’s go, you’d better start training,’” she explained to us earlier in the year.
Her memoir, Everything to Live For: The Inspirational Story of Turia Pitt with Libby Harkness, shows just how much courage and determination she truly has.
Perhaps the most refreshing thing of all is how utterly genuine Turia is.
“It’s not like this happened and then she reinvented herself as a philanthropist. She was born with this switch. She was 8 years old when she did her first World Vision 40 Hour Famine,” her proud mother told Woman’s Day.
It’s little wonder Turia was awarded the NSW Premier’s Woman of the Year in 2014. That same year, she was also a state finalist for Young Australian of the Year.
“I am very proud of who I am and what I’ve done!” We couldn’t agree more.
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