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Inspiring burns survivor Turia Pitt finishes Ironman triathlon in 13 hours after being told she would never run again

Is there anyone more inspiring than Turia Pitt?

She has now done what seemed unthinkable five years ago when she suffered burns to 65 percent of her body in a bushfire.

Amid emotional scenes, Turia has completed an ironman triathlon in 13 hours and 25 minutes of sheer courage.

She finished the 42km run after swimming 3.8km and cycling 180km in Port Macquarie.

Her amazing partner Michael Hoskin embraced Turia after she crossed the finish line.

The 28-year-old suffered severe burns and lost four fingers from her left hand and her right thumb during an ultra marathon in Western Australia’s Kimberly region.

She became caught in a fast-moving bushfire and doctors gave her a slim chance of survival.

It took 864 days in hospital, more than 100 surgeries and a determination to learn to walk again.

On Sunday, Ms Pitt took another step in her incredible recovery story, by taking part in her first Ironman triathlon.

Competing in drizzling rain, Ms Pitt lined up with 1400 atheletes at Port Macquarie to give it her best shot.

Turia has competed in her first Ironman triathlon.
Turia has competed in her first Ironman triathlon.


She told Fairfax she was driven by her desire to prove she’s fitter now than before the bushfire tragedy.

"What gets me out of bed is just getting back to that really compelling reason of why I wanted to do ironman – just to prove that I'm fitter now than I was in the ultra marathon," she said.

Ms Pitt took to Instagram before the triathlon to thank those who had helped her to prepare for the competition.

Turia Pitt is determined to prove she's fitter than ever.
Turia Pitt is determined to prove she's fitter than ever.

“Here we go! Today's the big day. Want to say that although it will be me crossing the finish line today, everyone from my mum to coaches, surgeons & nurses will be with me, including this bloody legend (her partner). Thanks to you all for helping me get to the start line,” she wrote.

It was only in February when Ms Pitt took to Facebook to declare she would prove her doctors wrong.

“I'll never forget that moment - it was like something switched inside my brain and I thought 'I'll show you, I'm going to do an IRONMAN one day'. Now, in just a few months I'll be competing in the Port Mac IRONMAN comp!”

Ms Pitt competed in the Ironman competition to raise $60,000 for Interplast, an organisation that provides free reconstructive surgery to those living in developing countries in the Asia Pacific.

The inspiring speaker told Fairfax her quality of life was higher than before the fire.

"People never know what they're going to do in a situation until they're put in it," she said.

"Some people might have given up, some people might have gone on to live a great life. I think my quality of life now is probably even a little bit better than it was before the fire."

Turia said dealing with her injuries made her realise how strong she was.
Turia said dealing with her injuries made her realise how strong she was.

Through dealing with her injuries she said she had discovered just how strong she was.

"My self-esteem has always been closely tied with my physical abilities, so when I couldn't do anything I felt like s---,” she said.

"Now that I'm back running and playing sports and swimming I feel more like me.