Judo star on the way back home af ter horror crash
WHEN she was involved in a horrific motorcycle incident in Vietnam, doctors gave judo star Stephanie Inglis a 1 per cent chance of survival. Yet just a month later the Commonwealth Games medallist has rallied and she is now well enough to return to Scotland.
Last night she was due to begin her journey home by air ambulance after she emerged from a medically induced coma at a hospital in Bangkok last week.
Miss Inglis, from Inverness, was involved in a freak accident in Ha Long that left her critically injured on May 11.
She suffered head injuries when her skirt caught in the wheel of a motorcycle taxi and pulled her off the bike on her way to work teaching English.
Miss Inglis’ childhood friend and fellow judo competitor Khalid Gehlan set up a fundraising bid after the sport star’s travel insurance had been deemed invalid.
Yesterday the 27-year-old’s parents said they were immensely grateful to the thousands who donated more than £300,000 to pay for medical care.
Her mother, Alison, said: ‘They’ve saved somebody’s life. Without them, it would be a completely different story. She wouldn’t be coming home, not alive anyway. I don’t know how to thank people – “thank you” sounds so small, doesn’t it?’
Miss Inglis’ father, Robert, said: ‘I don’t think anyone could have survived what she’s been through if she wasn’t fit and strong. It’s the strength and discipline, she’s been training all her life and she’s very disciplined in what she does.
‘So even when we go in, in the last couple of days, she’s trying to lift her leg. I’ve been telling her ... to get out of here, you just have to keep things moving. And she’s listening to me, and it’s so, so good to see.’
Miss Inglis’ sister Stacey, 25, shared a photo on Facebook showing the sisters as children, with the message: ‘Reunited with my sister and parents soon. Thanks to all you amazing people out there that supported Stephanie.’
A spokesman for the family said Miss Inglis has improved so much that her parents could explain to her she was going home, and the sportswoman astounded doctors by smiling.
In a statement on the Save Steph Facebook page, the spokesman said: ‘She is in so much discomfort and fighting against all the odds to improve herself. When the medical team
‘Still has the personality everyone loves’
asked her if she could hold up two fingers, Stephanie did, and then she smiled a small but amazing smile.
‘The doctor was so surprised he started to bow and laugh, because not only did it show that Stephanie understood this instruction it also showed after all that’s happened to her she still had the humour and friendly personality everyone respects and loves.
‘This is a difficult journey which will stop in India, Georgia and Austria and then its final stage. Stephanie Inglis, against all the odds, will be home.
‘Stephanie still has so much work and hard times ahead of her, and there will be dark and hard days when she comes to understand fully what has happened, but she now has so many people she knows will be there for her.
‘I’m certain it will add light to what will be a slow and hard journey ahead, but with people to carry her when times are tough, no one can ask for more.’