14-05-2025
Baby joy for judo star given only 1 per cent chance of survival after horror crash
A judo star who was given a one per cent chance of survival after a horror road incident in Vietnam has revealed her joy at becoming a mother.
Stephanie Inglis, 36, was left fighting for life after being dragged along a road when her skirt became caught in a taxi bike.
She made a full recovery but had to give up the sport after the accident in May 2016.
Nine years on she has reflected on her life and told of her joy at becoming a mum to her son Jacob in February.
Ms Inglis, who won a silver medal at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014, said: 'It's hard to put into words how deeply grateful I am to still be here. That experience changed everything.
'It reminded me how fragile life is and how powerful the human spirit can be. I wake up each day with a heart full of gratitude and absolutely no regrets.'
Ms Inglis, of Dunfermline, Fife, had a titanium plate inserted into her head in an operation to replace the bone removed by doctors after the accident.
They removed it to relieve the pressure on her brain after she fractured her skull and broke her neck in two places.
A fundraising page saw £327,000 pledged to fly her home to Scotland in a specialist air ambulance.
Ms Inglis, who was given just a one percent chance of survival, defied death and married husband Ally Morrison in 2022.
The pair said they were 'grateful, lucky and happy' as they started an 'amazing new chapter' of their lives with the birth of their son and that watching their 'beautiful prince' grow had been an 'absolute blessing' for them.
Ms Inglis added: 'I wouldn't be where I am now without the support I received during my darkest hours. Family, friends, doctors, even strangers-you all held me up when I couldn't stand on my own.
'Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. If there's one thing I've learned, it's this: don't be afraid to speak up.
'If you need help, ask. If you can help someone else, do it. We're not meant to go through life alone.'
Social media users offered their support to her.
One said: 'You are an amazing woman and it has been wonderful to follow your recovery and next chapter, I too was one of those strangers who prayed for your recovery and gave to get you home.
'Thank you for your gratitude and taking time to update us on your next steps. It's been a Joy to see you flourish.'
Another wrote: 'You're a true warrior Steph and an absolute inspiration to so so many and what a role model for that bonnie wee lad of yours. Proud to say I know you.'
