The image shows the 47-year-old mother-of-one bravely smiling for the camera, her shattered leg stabilised with a spare tent pole. At the time, hopes were still high that she could be saved.

Rescuers today gave up hope of reaching a brave woman mountaineer 'left to die' on a 24,406ft peak.

On Monday, the authorities in Kyrgyzstan abandoned attempts to extricate Natalia, also known as Natasha Nagovitsina, 47, from Victory Peak due to bad weather.