A ROCK climber who lost part of her leg following a deadly infection has made a remarkable recovery.

Laura Lambert, who works in Birchwood, had her left leg amputated below the knee, right leg reconstructed and fingers shortened after contracting pneumococcal septicaemia.

The 26-year-old had to learn how to eat, talk, walk and use her hands again after spending eight weeks fighting for her life in intensive care.

The graphic designer is now back at work and has vowed to help other sepsis survivors.

Laura and her husband mechanical engineer Charlie, 27, are hosting a charity ball at Halton Stadium on September 8 to raise funds for The UK Sepsis Trust and make more people aware of the symptoms of this life-threatening infection which claims the lives of 44,000 people every year.

Laura, from Upton Rocks in Widnes, said: "I was lucky enough to survive but many are not as lucky. Sepsis is an infection that neither myself or my husband had come across.

"Building up awareness is incredibly important to us."

Laura suddenly fell ill at home in February last year after developing a rash and becoming lethargic.

A paramedic immediately suspected the killer disease and administered antibiotics straightaway.

Charlie said: "The critical care staff in hospital say this may have saved Laura's life."

It was touch and go at first as doctors warned her family she may not survive.

The former Wade Deacon and Riverside College student was placed on a ventilator and then spent eight months in hospital mastering everyday tasks.

Laura said: "After being incubated for so long I struggled to talk and had to communicate by nodding my head. This was incredibly frustrating and having a conversation was very hard.

"I also had to learn how to eat again after relying on a nasogastric tube for many months.

"The hardest challenge I faced was the amputation of my left leg and the rehabilitation that came with it.

"When I first lost my leg I asked: 'Will I ever walk again?' to which I was told: 'We don't know'.

"From that point I was determined to push myself and build up my strength to get back on my feet."

After months of physio and training Laura was fitted with her first prosthetic leg.

"It takes a lot of patience," she said. "It was hard to adjust and I had a lot of setbacks due to blistering.

"I now have a fantastic prosthetic leg which has more movement and is much lighter."

Laura, who has a passion for outdoor sports, now goes to the gym and has walked up the Little Orme in Llandudno.

"I am hoping this will be the start of many adventures, who knows, it might be Snowdon next."

Laura wants to thank everyone who generously supported her appeal which raised £23,000 to fund a new blade and help towards the cost of adapting their three storey home.

"When I moved back home I was lucky enough to have a stair lift fitted," added Laura.

"We have a hot water dispenser and I can open bottles with a kitchen aid.

"Overcoming a serious illness is hard and takes a lot of determination. Adapting to a new life style was very difficult and I still face challenges every day.

"Recovery and rehabilitation can often take time, patience and dedication but there is always light at the end of the tunnel."

The charity ball includes a welcome drink, three course meal, entertainment by DJ Roy Basnett and band The Brothers Grim and a raffle.

Tickets priced £35 are available from laura.bennett17@hotmail.co.uk.