A CLIMBER from the North-East has had her left foot and part of her leg amputated after she survived an avalanche that swept her 4,000ft down a mountain in the Swiss Alps.

Joanna Newton, 38, managed to dig herself out while her climbing partner, Steve Jeffs, abseiled down and rigged up a makeshift sling to support her left leg, which was smashed below the knee.

Friends raised the alarm and the pair were found by a rescue helicopter, which took Miss Newton to Insel Hospital, in Bern.

It was discovered that the chemical engineer, from Guisborough, east Cleveland, had frostbite in her toes in her left foot, which had to be amputated.

Doctors later removed her left leg below the knee.

Miss Newton, an experienced ice climber, was on an adventure holiday when she was caught in a freak storm during a traverse between the Taschhorn and Dom mountains.

Her mother, Helena, said she was climbing with three friends, but two had stayed behind while Miss Newton climbed another peak with Mr Jeffs.

Despite a good forecast the weather turned nasty and the pair were caught in a white-out. They were forced to stay in a makeshift shelter for two-and-a-half-days, eating snow to survive.

It was then Miss Newton was caught in the avalanche, sending her down the mountainside in a torrent of ice and rocks.

Her mother, who lives in London, said she was grateful her daughter was alive.

She said: "It's a relief to me personally that her climbing days are over as it is always a source of great anxiety to her family."

She said her daughter, a member of the Cleveland Mountaineering Club, had tackled every mountainous area in the world.

Fellow club member, record-breaking mountaineer Alan Hinkes, from Northallerton, North Yorkshire, said last night: "Joanna is a bubbly person and an experienced climber. She knows what she is doing and is aware of the risks."

Mr Hinkes, who earlier this year became the first Briton to climb the world's 14 highest peaks, added: "Mountaineers are not risk-takers. They pit their skill, stamina and endurance against the elements to enhance their lives."

Miss Newton is also a member of the North Yorkshire Moors Athletic Club.

She was a competitive cyclist and runner as well as a skilled horsewoman.

In February, she finished 20th in the Fox & Hounds Northern Runner Winter Series.

Her partner, Dr Richard Waterton, flew out to be by her side after the accident.

Her brother, Nick Spokes, told The Northern Echo: "Joanna is doing okay, as well as can be expected in the circumstances."

Miss Newton has had five operations but will need more. It is thought she will be transferred to a hospital in Newcastle early next month.