A HARPENDEN man is set to make legal history with a ground-breaking test case against Virgin Airlines.

Mr Peter Wilson, 51, who developed deep vein thrombosis (DVT) after a flight from Heathrow to Honk Kong, issued a High Court writ last week against the airline for failing to warn him of the dangers of the condition.

If successful, his case could open the floodgates for hundreds more airline passengers who develop the potentially fatal medical condition.

Mr Wilson's legal team, Watford-based Collins Solicitors, are acting for another 200 clients with similar negligence claims, and plan to issue an action against the entire airline industry if this landmark case is successful.

Speaking about his case, Mr Wilson, of Highfield Avenue, said he became unwell with a severe pain in his left leg after a 13-hour flight in October 1998.

The sales manager, who had flown to the Far East for a business conference, said he woke up in excruciating pain the morning after the flight.

But unaware that it was likely to be a serious condition, he continued the trip, flying to Korea and then Vietnam before returning to the UK.

He said: "I had no idea what it could be and because the pain eased after half an hour and I was able to move around I didn't give it another thought."

Although he continued to be dogged by cramp-like pains throughout the two-week trip, Mr Wilson did not seek medical help.

On his return, the non-smoking grandfather collapsed in St Albans city centre, prompting his daughter, an auxiliary nurse, to insist he seek treatment.

His GP immediately diagnosed a pulmonary embolism a blood clot in the lung and he was rushed to the QEII Hospital in Welwyn Garden City.

After more than a week in hospital and a six month course of the powerful blood thinning drug Warfarin, Mr Wilson has largely recovered from his ordeal.

But today, more than three years later, he still takes aspirin daily to stop his blood clotting and wears compression stockings whenever he takes to the skies.

Although continuing to fly, he remains critical of the airline industry's response to DVT, commonly dubbed "economy class syndrome".

Ironically, he was travelling in premium business class with extra legroom when he developed the clot and insists it makes no difference where you sit.

"I'm lucky to be alive today," he said. "I nearly died and the airline industry still fails to adequately warn passengers of the dangers."

Insisting that he is not trying to scaremonger, Mr Wilson says that he hopes his case will "shake-up" the industry and get airlines to acknowledge the dangers of DVT on long flights.

"All it would take is a short video or a warning on the back of your ticket reminding people not to sit still too long and making them aware of the symptoms to look out for."

Mr Wilson will be warning air passengers of the dangers of DVT when he visits Luton Airport on November 21.

With members of VARDA Victims of Air-Related DVT he will highlight the danger signs and promote techniques for avoiding DVT.

November 9, 2001 19:00