Turia Pitt (b. 1987), author, businesswoman, motivational speaker and athlete, grew up in Ulladulla, New South Wales and studied engineering and science at the University of NSW, graduating in 2010. She became a mining engineer and was 'living a dream life' when, in 2011, while competing in an ultramarathon run through Western Australia’s Kimberley region, she became trapped by a grassfire raging along the course in a gorge outside Kununurra. It was several hours before she could be rescued; by the time help arrived, she had suffered severe burns to 65 per cent of her body and wasn't expected to live. Placed in a medically-induced coma for a month, she endured more than 100 surgeries and 864 days in hospital. She lost all of the fingers on her right hand and two on her left, and was required to wear a full-body compression suit and mask for over two years. Against all the odds, she survived. Since 2014, when the WA Supreme Court ruled in her favour in an action against the organisers of the race, Pitt has built a successful online self-help business, written three books, and raised awareness for a number of philanthropic and medical causes. She has raised more than $1 million for the organisation ReSurge International by walking the Great Wall of China (2014), the Inca Trail (2015) and the Kokoda Track (2016); and in 2016 she competed in both the Ironman Australia and Ironman World Championship events. In July 2014 she was the subject of the cover story for the Australian Women's Weekly, which garnered worldwide attention.
