So, get the conga going on the flight.

Oct 23, 2000

A 28-year-old British woman has collapsed and died from a blood clot after a long haul flight from Australia.

The condition, known medically as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), is believed to have been triggered when Emma Christopherson sat for long periods during the 20-hour Qantas flight from Sydney to London Heathrow.

Ms Christopherson, from Newport, South Wales, is one of the youngest people to become a victim of DVT, which has a history of affecting airline passengers.

She was taken ill in the Arrivals area at Heathrow and died on the way to hospital.

The travelers most prone to DVT are usually people who are elderly or middle-aged.

It is brought about by sitting for long periods in cramped conditions and raises questions over the amount of leg room available to airline passengers traveling coach class on long flights.

Health experts advise people to walk about and move their legs on extended flights.

Qantas spokeswoman Sally Martin, the airline's general manager for the UK and Ireland said: "Our sincere sympathies are with Emma's family. The safety of our passengers is always of paramount importance and we do refer to the possible effects of flying in our in-flight magazine."