JEMIMA Duxberry will have to go back under the knife as she aims to recover from another knee injury.

The 21-year-old, from Devizes, suffered the latest career setback whilst competing in the recent University European Championships in Croatia and now faces an 18 month lay-off after snapping both her posterior cruciate and her medial collateral ligaments.

To add insult to injury, Duxberry also has had to raise £3,000 to put towards the operation, which took place last week.

It is the second serious knee injury for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics hopeful, who suffered the same injury in 2014 on her other knee.

“It felt worse than the first time I did it on the other knee, although everyone was saying it’s fine and it wouldn’t be as bad,” she added.

“We are looking at 18 months before going back to competition. You have to start from the absolute beginning for judo and relearn it.

“I can’t believe it’s happened again, I don’t know anyone who’s had this much bad luck so close together, everyone gets injured but it’s so rare to get two major injuries.

“When you first do it there is so much pain, everything goes through your mind you think you hate the sport. When you get over that bit you have a clearer mind and I think I have 18 months to get in the best shape possible.”

She added: “For this one, my insurance company couldn’t afford to cover it because it was £20,000, so they offered to pay £7,500 towards it.

“British Judo couldn’t insure me for this kind of injury so I was going through the NHS.

“Then they called saying I needed special funding. Circle Bath (hospital) offered to do (operation) for £10,500, so my insurance are paying £7,500 and I have to find £3,000.”