Woman of 28 dies after cramped flight

A woman collapsed and died from deep-vein thrombosis minutes after completing a flight from Australia to London after attending the Olympics.

A woman collapsed and died from deep-vein thrombosis minutes after completing a flight from Australia to London after attending the Olympics.

Emma Christoffersen, 28, is believed to be one of the youngest victims of "economy class syndrome", brought on by being cramped for hours. Her family is demanding that airlines warn flyers of the risks.

Ms Christoffersen, from Newport, south Wales, had complained of feeling unwell within minutes of the Qantas jet touching down at Heathrow after a 20-hour flight from Sydney. She lost consciousness in the arrivals hall and died before reaching hospital.

A post-mortem examination revealed the cause of her death was deep-vein thrombosis (DVT), a blood clot that forms in a vein, usually in the leg, and works its way into the heart or lungs.

Her mother, Ruth Christoffersen, said: "I want every air passenger to know the dangers of this condition and that it can hit young people. "

Doctors say an aspirin tablet taken a few hours before take-off would greatly reduce the number of victims by thinning the blood during long periods of inactivity.

Qantas said safety was its top priority and that it referred to the possible effects of flying in its in-flight magazine.