JUDO star Stephanie Inglis is recovering in hospital after a final operation after her motorcycle accident last year “went well”.

The brave 28-year-old, who is based in Duloch, went under the knife on Friday for the last round of surgery since the horror incident last May that almost claimed her life.

Inverness-born Stephanie was given just a one per cent chance of survival after suffering critical brain injuries when she was thrown off the bike in Vietnam, where she was voluntarily teaching English to schoolchildren.

After spending two weeks in a coma in hospital, an online fundraising campaign by childhood friend Khalid Gehlan allowed her to be moved to Bangkok for specialist care, and then back to Scotland on June 13.

She astounded doctors with her progress and, in July, was given the all-clear to return to the family home in the Highlands and continue her recovery.

Stephanie, a silver medallist at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, revealed that she would undergo a final operation in the New Year to have a titanium plate inserted into her skull to protect her from further damage.

That took place in Edinburgh on Friday and, after coming out of theatre, she tweeted: “Operation went well and just managed a little dinner. Sore head and pretty tired as expected but doing well thanks for all your messages.”

She posted a further update on her recovery this morning on Twitter, adding: “Woke up with a massive swollen black eye and getting moved ward but my new bed is so much comfier than the last one so that's good!!”

Stephanie's remarkable story saw more than £300,000 raised to help pay for medical costs and return her home after her multi-trip insurance policy was deemed invalid by her provider.

The campaign attracted support from a number of high profile figures, including First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, and in October Stephanie was named 'Team Scot of the Year' at the Team Scotland Scottish Sports Awards.

In a wide-ranging interview with the Press in November, Stephanie said that she was determined to try and return to judo.

She said at the time: “The doctors have warned me that it might not happen or that I might not get back to the level that I was at but I owe it to myself to try.

“I’m under no illusions as to how hard it will be and I’m sure there will be lots of crying but I’ve got time on my side. My dad has been taking me to the gym and I’m slowly getting my fitness back, although I’m really unfit just now! I’ve been able to get on the treadmill, cross-trainer and the bike and I’ve been going swimming as well. I had my first run on the treadmill the other day so there are small improvements all the time.

“I know I have to be one of the top females and in 2014 I was one of the top seven in Scotland. The atmosphere was something I can’t describe; it must be like a football match where a team scores a goal and all the fans go crazy. That’s what it was like for us. It was so good and I’ve never felt as proud being part of the judo team that broke the record for the most successful team at a Commonwealth Games.

“It keeps me positive and motivated to push on. 2022 would be my last competitive judo tournament and I plan to get a gold medal; but I’ll be going for gold this time.”