Critically injured Inverness judo star Stephanie Inglis is to be woken from a medically-induced coma as doctors continue the battle to save her.
The Commonwealth Games medallist suffered serious head injuries when her skirt caught in the wheel of a motorcycle taxi in Vietnam and pulled her off the bike.
She was travelling to work teaching English in Ha Long when the accident happened on May 12.
Doctors in Vietnam gave her a 1% chance of survival but earlier this week she was deemed well enough to be transferred to hospital in Bangkok.
Medical staff in the Thai capital are now trying to bring the Glasgow 2014 silver medallist round from her coma.
A post on the SaveSteph social media page said that since her transfer to Bangkok on Wednesday, tests had found two undiagnosed minor spinal fractures and blood poisoning, on top of her existing pneumonia.
However, medical experts also said that the athlete’s head injuries were improving.
The statement said: “Doctors believe that her head injury is beginning to heal and over the next 48 hours are significantly reducing her sedation in an attempt to wake Stephanie from her medically-induced coma, so they have a better understanding of the extent of her injury.
“They have stressed that this can take days or weeks and not to expect instant results, but believe it is a vital next step.”
It added: “Stephanie is still in a very critical condition but thanks to everyone who is supporting her we have given her the best chance of recovery.”
More than 6,700 people had donated more than £242,000 to fundraising campaign set up by Ms Inglis’ childhood friend and judo competitor Khalid Gehlan to help pay for her medical bills.
Her travel insurance had been deemed invalid and her hospital stay was costing £2,000 a day.
A fundraising auction and raffle will be held at the Mercure Inverness Hotel from 7pm tonight.
Dozens of prizes will be auctioned, including an iPad mini, a two-night luxury weekend break for four at the Coach House Holiday Cottage in Argyll, a pair of Groove Loch Ness festival tickets, and four matchday tickets with hospitality at Ross County.
