Blood clot kills first-class passenger

New fears were raised today over the risks of deep vein thrombosis after a first class-passenger died from the condition.

Ann Price, 57, collapsed after a blood clot formed in her leg and moved to her lung following a six-and-a-half hour flight from Miami to Gatwick with Virgin Atlantic.

Today her family called on airlines to highlight the condition's danger to all airline passengers.

Mrs Price's daughter, Jacqui Dixon, 30, said : "It is wrong to call this 'economy-class syndrome'. We've since found out it may happen to more first- and business-class passengers because the seats are more comfortable and people do not get up and move about as much. The airlines should give a lot more advice to passengers ."

Mrs Price woke up complaining of breathing difficulties the morning after returning with her husband John, 59, to their home in Bottesford, Notts. She was rushed to hospital, where she later died. Doctors said Mrs Price had suffered a bilateral pulmonary embolism, a blood clot in her lungs. An inquest has been opened and adjourned.

Government guidelines last year said people with a history of thrombosis and who have been taking hormone replacement therapy were among those at greater risk of suffering from DVT. Mrs Price was on HRT and had a blood clot 20 years ago following an operation.

An expert in the condition, Professor John Scurr of London's Lister hospital, said a surprising number of people he treats for "economy class syndrome" travel first- and business-class. "The expression 'economy class syndrome' should not be used. "

Recent research has shown that 10 otherwise healthy people die every year from a blood clot within minutes of stepping off long-haul flights at Heathrow.