[3] At the age of nineteen her spinal cord was damaged by a flu virus, which would eventually lead to tetraplegia, partial or complete paralysis of all four limbs.

[3] Newstead moved to Harlow, Essex in the late seventies to work as a systems analyst with Rank Hovis McDougall.

[2] Newstead did not compete in the swimming events at the 1988 Summer Paralympics in Seoul due to health challenges.

In Atlanta, on the eve of the opening ceremony, Newstead fell from her wheelchair and required surgery on a broken hip.

[1][4] In The New Year Honours 2001 Newstead was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to Disabled Sport.