KATRINA Jacks, the 23-year-old daughter of local doctors, has died suddenly during a trekking trip in Peru.

It is understood that Katrina died unexpectedly of natural causes associated with the acute effects of high altitude sickness. She had been in South America for several months, volunteering at an orphanage, improving her Spanish in Ecuador, and trekking on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.

Katrina was the elder daughter of Dr Alaisdair and Dr Susanna Jacks, who worked for the cross-border Vauxhall and Tutshill surgeries between Chepstow and Tidenham and are well-known locally.

Katrina, or 'Kay', initially lived in Mathern, then Tutshill, attending Tutshill Church of England Primary School, before moving to Haberdashers' Monmouth School for Girls until 2005 where she gained straight As at GCSE and A-level.

An accomplished rower, she won a clutch of gold medals at the National Schools championship and went on to represent Great Britain Under 16's for two years, winning both events in the British Eight.

Reading chemical engineering at Imperial College, London, Katrina continued rowing and was in the Welsh eight that took silver in the 2007 Commonwealth Championships in Glasgow.

After being awarded a first class MEng degree last summer and winning a research prize in her final year, she was due to start work with an engineering consultancy firm on her return from South America.

A proficient needlewoman who loved baking, she leaves a brother, William, sister, Rosie and boyfriend, Jon, as well as many friends.

"Her loss will be immeasurable and she will be very sadly missed," said the family.