SHE suffered serious injuries which could have ended her life, never mind derailing her athletic career.
But now Scottish judo star Stephanie Inglis has said she is confident of making a full recovery and has set her sights on returning to her sport at the top level one day.
The Commonwealth Silver Medallist received life-threatening injuries in a horrific motorbike accident in Vietnam where she was teaching English, and was initially given just a one per cent chance of survival.
She was saved thanks to a huge fundraising effort which collected more than a quarter of a million pounds to pay for her to undergo brain surgery in Bangkok, and is now recovering in Scotland at her home in Inverness.
Ms Inglis said that doctors have been amazed by her progress and that she hopes to get back to the judo mat early next year.
Speaking to the BBC, she said: "The doctors were not too sure at the start, obviously with all the stats coming back that were very bad. But after they have seen the way I have progressed, I think they now have more belief that I'll be able to make a full recovery.
"If I get back into training and see where it goes I'd like to get into my competitive career. Judo is not in the next Commonwealth Games, it's appearing again in 2022, so I really would love to get back in time for that.
"And who knows for Tokyo in 2020? I all just depends on how I do and where I end up."
The 27-year-old has been undergoing physical therapy and still faces another operation. However, has started attending a gym and going swimming with her father Robert.
She has no memory of the accident which almost took her life, and has been told by doctors this is likely a good thing as she will not suffer debilitating flashbacks.
Ms Inglis said: "Right now it's a bout keeping positive. It's crazy to think I have come through what I have. There's no point getting down about what could have have been or what was nearly, because I've pulled through the worst of it."
She added: "With my sport I've always pushed myself to beat my own personal best and be a better person the next day, so that's kind of how I've looked at it [recovery]."
"I'm getting better everyday and I just have to keep up and keep going. I will get back to normal. I can feel it, I know I will. I just have to keep pushing myself til I get there."
A GoFundMe page set up by her friends and received donations from fellow athletes, football clubs and members of the public and raised£327,892.
Robert Inglis said that the website has now been closed, having collected enough to ensure that his daughter's medical bills were paid.
Money left over will be donated to a good cause once his daughter has recovered fully.
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