A “HOCKEY daft” personal trainer who was given just a five per cent chance of survival while in a Vietnamese hospital has targeted a return to the sport with Preston Lodge Ladies.

Mekala Osborne, who represented Preston Lodge High School and Preston Lodge Ladies at the sport, took unwell while travelling through South East Asia last year.

Her mum, Yvonne McAulay, flew out to be by her hospital bedside, with Mekala now continuing her recovery back in Scotland.

She acknowledged it would be a long road to recovery but said: “I’ve always loved a challenge.

“I know it is such a long road and at the moment I am taking literal baby steps but it is the prospect of it.

“It is exciting to know that I am going to try running and start playing hockey again.”

Mekala was diagnosed with a deadly virus which resulted in pneumonia while she was in Cambodia, with medical staff fearing the worst.

Mekala, who received nearly 200 birthday cards when she turned 23 on Sunday, spoke to Scottish Hockey about what happened.

She said: “I was actually only given a five per cent chance of survival and I have defied all odds since then.

“There was a time when they said I would maybe never walk again and my progress was always questionable because they were not sure; they had never seen a case exactly like mine.

“From the pneumonia, I developed muscular neuropathy when I was in the coma for two weeks.

“My muscles went to sleep and deteriorated because my body was using all the energy to take care of my vital organs.

“Basically, I have just been working on building up my muscle mass since then but I am definitely getting there.

“It has been the most terrifying year but it has put life into perspective.”

Mekala, who used to live on Grange Crescent West, Prestonpans, and now lives in Wallyford, grew up playing sport, including karate and football, before getting involved with her secondary school’s hockey team.

She became captain and got involved with Preston Lodge Ladies.

The personal trainer thanked the club for their continued support over the last year and said: “The PL ladies have been absolutely amazing.

“While I was in Singapore, they did a charity match and they made a little video.

“It was sort of like Avengers Assemble but it was PL Assemble and it was brilliant.

“As soon as I was back in Edinburgh, a couple of them actually came up to see me.

“They brought me a little Christmas present and it was a pillow and it had loads of pictures of me and the team and it was lovely.

“As soon as I came to rehab, they sent me a little care package with chocolates, goodies and stuff.

“They also made a photo frame with pictures in it and that sits so that every morning I wake up in rehab and that is the first thing I see.”

Now, she has targeted a return to the hockey pitch and urged others to use her journey as inspiration that anything can be achieved with hard work.

She said: “I just think it is so important to never give up on your dreams.

“Set your dreams out in front of you and chase them until you catch them because it is so important and a lesson that everyone should be aware of.”

Susie Walker, Scottish Hockey’s development officer in East Lothian, described Mekala as “a true inspiration”.

She said: “We are all blown away at Scottish Hockey by the progress Mekala has made so far in her recovery – it is a true testament to who she is.

“It’s incredibly powerful to hear Mekala’s drive to eventually get back playing hockey and I’m absolutely certain we’ll see her reach her goal, and get back out on the pitch with her team, and it’s probable most of the community will be there cheering her on.”