BBC NEWS Americas Africa Europe Middle East South Asia Asia Pacific Arabic Spanish Russian Chinese Welsh
BBCi CATEGORIES   TV   RADIO   COMMUNICATE   WHERE I LIVE   INDEX    SEARCH 

BBC NEWS
 You are in:  UK: England
Front Page 
World 
UK 
England 
Northern Ireland 
Scotland 
Wales 
UK Politics 
Business 
Sci/Tech 
Health 
Education 
Entertainment 
Talking Point 
In Depth 
AudioVideo 


Commonwealth Games 2002

BBC Sport

BBC Weather

SERVICES 
Thursday, 21 March, 2002, 19:48 GMT
Research call after DVT death
There has been concern over the safety of long flights
John Price says health research should be made public
A woman has died from a blood clot after flying first class from Miami to the UK.

Ann Price, from Bottesford, Leicestershire, died when the clot travelled to her lungs 24 hours after she had made the six-and-a-half-hour flight from the United States.

Her husband John said his wife had been fit and healthy before her journey on 26 February - and called for more research into the problem of how deep vein thrombosis (DVT) affects airline passengers.

Mrs Price had complained of breathing difficulties the morning after her return and was taken to Grantham Hospital where she later died.


I believe there is a lot more known about this condition than the airlines are prepared to release

John Price

A post-mortem examination revealed she had suffered a bilateral pulmonary embolism - a blood clot on her lungs.

Mrs Price's daughter Jacqui Dixon said DVT did not just affect economy class passengers because those in first class had more comfortable seats and were less inclined to get up and move around.

Mr Price added: "I would like to see a lot more research into this and there should be improved safety measures by airlines.

"I believe there is a lot more known about this condition than the airlines are prepared to release and this is just the tip of the iceberg."

An inquest on Mrs Price was opened and adjourned at Lincoln in March and will be resumed at a date and time to be fixed.

A spokesman for Virgin Atlantic, the airline on which Mrs Price flew, said that information regarding precautions against DVT was given to all passengers.

Airline advice

He said: "I cannot comment on individual cases, but we do make sure passengers are made aware of what precautions should be taken to try and avoid this.

"We, along with the whole airline industry, are supporting research which is to be carried out by the World Health Organisation into DVT.

"At the moment there is no direct causal link between it and air travel, but the latest research - although rather contradictory - does suggest there may be a link between immobility and DVT."

He offered his sympathies to Mr Price and his family.


Click here to go to Leicester
See also:

31 Jan 02 | Health
Green light for DVT compensation bid
24 Jan 02 | Health
Tourist who feared DVT wins damages
21 Jan 02 | Health
Jury out on DVT link say airlines
15 Jan 02 | Health
Fast and 'reliable' DVT test unveiled
13 Sep 01 | Health
Longer flights have 'greater DVT risk'
11 May 01 | C-D
Deep vein thrombosis
Internet links:


The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites

Links to more England stories are at the foot of the page.


E-mail this story to a friend

Links to more England stories