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A Wollongong production company is making a documentary about Turia Pitt's extraordinary journey after being trapped in a grass fire in 2011 and receiving burns to 65 per cent of her body.
The news coincides with Ms Pitt signing on to speak at an Illawarra Women In Business lunch on February 6, next year.
The film, being made by Mark Brightwell, of Zodiac Productions, is called Phoenix the Documentary and comes two years after Mr Brightwell finished co-producing Raw The Movie, which screened around the world.
"Over the past 18 months, I have been working on the development of this amazing film opportunity," Mr Brightwell said.
"It is a documentary that follows Turia Pitt on her extraordinary journey back from near-death and her return to the water [Turia is a keen surfer].
"I first approached Turia when her story aired on 60 Minutes. I was captivated by her strength and see her journey is an inspirational struggle of determination. I want to put my own twist on it. I want to focus on the day-to-day struggle she faced and how she overcame everything. It is not going to be a surfing film. It is all about overcoming adversity, finding inner strength and never giving up.
"A lot of burns victims go to hell and back and it is really tough on the family. But life can go on and this is about telling a story that gives others hope. It is going to be a very powerful documentary that will be universal."
Mr Brightwell hopes teachers will also play it to students in schools.
"After events like this, relationships can fall apart but we want to show how it is possible to defy all the statistics," he said.
"Turia's relationship with [partner] Michael [Hoskin] got even stronger. A key to that has been her getting back into the water and her choosing to remain upbeat.
"Turia and I want to bring this amazing documentary to life, but need help to tell this amazing story. We have 40 days to raise $60,000 and we ask the Wollongong community to get behind this."
Mr Brightwell believed Illawarra and South Coast people would help because of the local nature of the film.
He is from Wollongong and Turia is from Mollymook.
If people are not able to support it financially with a donation they can help by spreading the word on social media.
