Lois, 26, wants travellers to know that staying still on long flights can be dangerous.
She slept almost the entire 20-hour journey from London to Australia. Two days later, her left calf swelled and burned. “It felt like I’d pulled a muscle, but hotter,” she recalled. Doctors found a 4cm deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

Blood clots are more likely after flying due to long periods of sitting and lower air pressure. Risk is higher for smokers, those with circulation problems, or a family history of clots. Lois admitted she ignored her dad’s advice to wear compression socks and move around. “I massively regret that now,” she said.

Doctors say her clot should dissolve naturally, but she’ll need months of check-ups. If it moves, she may require blood thinners for up to a year. Blood clots can be silent but life-threatening, sometimes leading to heart attacks or strokes.

Her warning is simple: get up, stretch, and protect your circulation on every flight. As Lois put it, “I feel silly — I should have just moved a few times.”