JUDO star Stephanie Inglis has spoken for the first time since arriving back in Scotland following a horror motorbike accident in Vietnam.

The 27-year-old Commonwealth Games silver medallist, who lives in Duloch, returned to Edinburgh via a private air ambulance on Monday after waking from a coma following the incident four weeks ago.

Stephanie was taken to the capital's Western General Hospital, where her condition was described as "stable" by her parents, Robert and Alison, on Tuesday.

Now the brave athlete, who had been given just a one per cent chance of survival by doctors treating her in Vietnam following the accident, spoke to her mum for the first time.

An update on the 'Save Steph' Facebook page said: "We met Robert and Alison in the visitors lounge and Alison told me Stephanie has been sleeping most of the day due to some pain killers she is on to help with her discomfort so not to expect much, as they made her drowsy.

"When we got to the room Stephanie was asleep, Alison gently awakened her and said Steph look who's here to see you, Steph partially opened her eye looked and when she saw me smiled and for the first time looked straight at me and said Hi, we were speechless I was over whelmed with the moment as was Alison.

"While I was talking to Steph I realised she has all her memories intact, and she is alert to what is happening.

"I also realised today what a long and hard road Stephanie has ahead,and as much support as she will be given every step to recover for her is painful and challenging, and keeping Stephanie's belief that she will get through this is something her family have shown they are dedicated to do, and they have to do this without showing there own fear and emotions, because Stephanie has to believe that turning this around is possible, that she can do it no matter how hard each day may seem."

Stephanie suffered serious head injuries following the accident, which happened as she was being taxied to a school where she had been teaching English.

She was thrown off the motorcycle at high speed after her skirt was caught in the wheel and she spent almost two weeks in a coma in a Vietnamese hospital before being moved to Thailand for specialist care.

Stephanie’s cousin, Louise Ferrier, who runs the Centre Stage Dance Academy in Crossgates, said the family “couldn’t be anymore delighted and excited” that she had been flown home, while Robert said that her return to Scotland was a “miracle”.

After it emerged that 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, her friend, Khalid Gehlan, launched an online fundraising campaign to meet the costs of her medical care, which was estimated at £2,000 a day.

The campaign, backed by a host of sports stars and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, went on to raise in excess of £300,000 and Stephanie’s family said that it proved invaluable in the efforts to bring her home.

Another post on the ‘Save Steph’ Facebook page, 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. No-one can ask for more.”