Inverness judo star Stephanie Inglis has broadcast an emotional thank you to the thousands of people who helped save her life – and is due home today.
The Commonwealth Games silver medallist has been treated at hospitals in Edinburgh and Fife since flying back to Scotland from Vietnam where she narrowly survived an horrific motorcycle accident.
In her first TV interview since the crash, the 27-year-old told last night’s Real Stories programme on ITV she may not have been around if it was not for people’s generosity.
Supporters from across the world donated more than £300,000 to pay her medical costs after learning that her insurance had expired.
Doctors initially gave her a “1% chance” of survival from head injuries she suffered in the freak accident.
Her skirt got caught in the wheel of a motorcyle taxi throwing her to the road en route to work in Vietnam where she was teaching English to underprivileged children.
Ms Inglis said: “The hardest thing is when I finally woke up in Edinburgh. It was just people telling what had happened, saying I had been in a motorbike accident and I had no memory.
“I’m getting more confidence, knowing that I can do it, and pushing myself on a little bit every day.”
She attributed her recovery to her athletic pedigree.
Overwhelmed by the fundraising, she said: “It’s crazy – it’s another thing I can’t get my head around.
“It’s just so nice and all those people who donated and sent well wishes. If it wasn’t for them I might not even be here today.”
Her tearful mother Alison told how she had feared the worst.
“They didn’t know how close she was to death,” she said. “You’re petrified in case someone says ‘I’m sorry…’.
“There’s so much horror in the world but people came together. They did save her life, they created this miracle.”
Speaking to the Press and Journal last night, (THURS) her father Robert said: “It’ll be fantastic to have her home. She’s walking, talking and eating but does tire quite easily. Most of her memory is back. She’s got to go back for surgery but that may be next year.”
