JUDO star Stephanie Inglis has arrived back in Scotland after waking from a coma following a motorbike accident in Vietnam.

The 27-year-old, who lives in Duloch, landed at Edinburgh Airport earlier today (Monday) in what a spokesperson for the family said would be a "difficult journey" via India, Georgia and Austria.

Stephanie, who won a silver medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, was given a one per cent chance of survival by doctors in Vietnam after the accident just over four weeks ago.

She has been taken to the capital's Western General Hospital, where she is being assessed in an ICU unit.

In a post on the 'Save Steph' Facebook page on Saturday, the spokesperson said: "This is a difficult journey which will stop in India, Georgia and Austria and then it's the final stage Stephanie Inglis against all the odds will be home.

"Today Stephanie was improved enough for her parents to explain what was going to happen, and today during a physio session Stephanie Inglis smiled.
She is in so much discomfort and fighting against all the odds to improve herself when the medical team 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 that everyone respects and loves."

Stephanie's cousin Louise Ferrier, who runs the Centre Stage Dance Academy in Crossgates, added: "Stephanie has started her journey home and we couldn't be anymore delighted and excited!"

Stephanie, originally from Inverness, had been in Vietnam for four months teaching English to children and was being taxied to a school in the north of the country when the incident happened.

After her skirt was caught in the wheel of the motorcycle, she was thrown off at high speed and suffered serious head injuries.

She spent almost two weeks in a coma in a Vietnamese hospital before being moved to Thailand for specialist care.

That came after an online fundraising campaign was started by her friend, Khalid Gehlan, after it emerged Stephanie's multi-trip travel insurance would not cover her medical costs as it was only valid for the first 31 days of being in the country.

The campaign, backed by a host of sports stars and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, has gone on to raise more than £300,000 and the family said that they would not have been able to bring her home without it.

The spokesperson added: "If we had not had this money and support quite frankly Stephanie would have received no medical assistance, we would not have been able to take her to the wonderful hospital in Bangkok where she received the best care we could have asked for, and most importantly we would not have been able to send an amazing rescue team to bring her home. What each and every individual did here is amazing and from everyone who loves Stephanie, thank you for what you have done, I have no words.

"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."

Dunfermline MP Douglas Chapman said: "My SNP colleague Drew Hendry MP has been helping the family in discussions with the Foreign Office to try and get Stephanie home as quickly as possible. Stephanie's family are based in Inverness and we thought that Drew should take the lead but I have had regular discussions with him on how we support the family.

"Stephanie's family has shown an immense amount of resolve and unconditional love in getting her to this stage in her recovery and it's great to hear that her own determination is showing through and that she was stable enough to travel home by air ambulance.

Her recovery journey is far from over and we wish her well in making further progress with her family and friends by her side."

If you would like to make a donation to the 'Save Steph' fund, visit https://www.gofundme.com/23yq67t4.