With tears in her eyes, Monique Murphy spoke about her journey to becoming a Paralympic silver medalist.

Murphy finished second, from an outside lane, in the S10 400m freestyle.

Just over two years ago, Murphy woke up from a coma, not knowing what had happened.

"I found out that I had fallen from a fifth floor balcony and I had my right foot amputated," she said.

"From there, I went on and had about eight operations and elective amputation below the knee.

"Since then it's just been a whole lot of family support and rehabilitation."

The accident happened on March 29, 2014.

"Two years ago I did not think I'd be standing here," Murphy said.

"An initial tragic event has turned into such a special thing."

During the race Murphy was pushed hard for second place, finishing less than half of a second ahead of fourth place.

"In my head I was quite controlled but I could feel in my body I was a nervous wreck," she said.

"I was doing everything to keep that in control, I thought I was going to burst out of my suit."

Murphy said she had to swim her own race as she couldn't see her competitors.

The 22-year-old Victorian said swimming had done so much for her.

"Swimming was a lifeline really," Murphy said.

"I struggled a lot with pain and mobility, as soon as I got back in the water... it all stopped, pretty much straightaway.

"I had an outlet for all the energy and I had a goal each day."

Murphy said she loved to push herself to her limits.

"I wouldn't be here at a Paralympics, but I wouldn't be here walking, standing, I wouldn't be back at uni, and I wouldn't have my life back if it weren't for swimming," she said.