Judo Star Smiles After Waking Up From Coma

A British judo star critically injured in motorbike accident in Vietnam has astounded doctors by smiling for the first time since waking from her coma, her family spokeswoman has said.

Commonwealth Games silver medallist Stephanie Inglis suffered head injuries when she was thrown from a motorbike taxi when her skirt became caught in the wheel.

Doctors initially gave the 27-year-old from Inverness a 1% chance of survival, but she emerged from a medically induced coma last week several weeks after the accident in May.

The UK air ambulance, which is preparing to fly Ms Inglis to hospital in Scotland, has arrived at her hospital in Bangkok.

A spokeswoman for the family said Ms Inglis has improved so much that her parents, Robert and Alison, could explain to her she was going home and she stunned doctors by smiling.

In a statement on the Save Steph Facebook page, the spokeswoman said: "She is in so much discomfort and fighting against all the odds to improve herself when the medical team asked her if she could hold up two fingers, Stephanie did, and then she smiled a small but amazing smile.

"The doctor was so surprised he started to bow and laugh, because not only did it show that Stephanie understood this instruction it also showed after all that's happened to her she still had the humour and friendly personality that everyone respects and loves."

She added that Stephanie and her family hope to be on their way in under 24 hours, saying: "This is a difficult journey which will stop in India, Georgia and Austria and then its final stage Stephanie Inglis against all the odds will be home."

She thanked the thousands of supporters who have donated over £300,000 to pay for medical care for Ms Inglis.

She said without the money it would have been impossible get her treatment, transfer her to hospital in Bangkok and get her back to Scotland.