A scientist from Edinburgh has died after falling nearly 1000ft while skiing in the Swiss Alps.

Catriona Neath, 32, was on a ski touring holiday with her fiance when the accident took place. She fell down a snowy slope while on a 12,000ft peak in the Bernina range near the border with Italy.

During the fall Ms Neath hit her head and lost consciousness. She died at a hospital in the town of Chur the following day.

Ms Neath and partner Peter Davies, 34, were avid skiers and outdoor enthusiasts. They were returning to the mountain hut they had been staying in during their tour of the Italian-Swiss Alps when the fall happened.

Ms Neath, originally from Edinburgh, worked as an environmental scientist with multinational design and consulting firm Arup and was based in Sheffield.

She had worked for the firm for 10 years after graduating from Leeds University with a masters degree in geochemistry. She also had an honours degree in physical geography from Sheffield University.

Ms Neath's Facebook page shows the couple on previous trips to Switzerland, Norway, and the Serre Chevalier ski resort in the French Alps. They had also posted videos of themselves skiing in Scotland.

Her sister Susannah, who lives in Switzerland, and her father John, 67, travelled to the remote region following the accident on April 10 to be at her bedside.

Mr Neath said: "This has been a very difficult time for us. I'm still in a bit of a daze and I don't think it will sink in until after the funeral.

"I travelled to Switzerland to be with her as soon as I got the call about what happened."

Ms Neath had carried out humanitarian work in Africa helping to provide clean water in the Ashanti region of Ghana.

In a statement, aid charity Ashanti Development, said: "Volunteer Cat Neath died after a skiing accident. She fell and hit her head and never recovered consciousness. She was surrounded by her friends, one of whom was a doctor, and her partner was with her.

"Cat was one of the first of our volunteers. She was a geochemist, employed by Arup, and came to help sort out the water problems in Ashanti. We are all so very sorry to hear this news."

Ski touring involves travelling long distances across mountainous terrain, both skiing downhill and climbing.

Ms Neath's funeral will be held at Mortonhall Crematorium in Edinburgh on Saturday.

A spokeswoman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: "We are aware of the death of a British national on April 11 in Switzerland. We are providing consular assistance at this difficult time."

Scots businessman Jeremy Salvesen died on April 10 following a skiing accident in the French Alps. The 51-year-old, from Elie in Fife, was with his family in the resort of La Clusaz when it is understood he fell and hit his head on a rock.