A BRITISH backpacker who had been living on the streets has died on a flight from Melbourne after immigration officials ordered him to leave Australia, according to an English report.

Michael Edgeley, 22, died on Saturday after his Emirates flight to Dubai was forced to make an emergency landing in India after he complained of chest pains. He was reportedly given oxygen treatment by cabin crew, but died en route to hospital in Mumbai.

Mr Edgeley, a student from Lancashire, in north-west England, had reportedly run out of money and had been living rough in Melbourne. The Lancashire Evening Post reported that he may have been unwell before boarding the plane but had been ordered to return home as his visa had expired. His mother, Jean, had agreed to pay for his flight.

Mr Edgeley had been travelling in Australia since last year and, according to a social networking site, had been "living it up" in Melbourne. He had been due to catch a connecting flight to Manchester.

A spokesman for Emirates said: "The cause of death is obviously under investigation and Emirates' condolences are with his family at this sad time."

A Civil Aviation Authority spokesman said: "If a passenger has a serious illness, they should contact their airline before they travel."

A spokesman for the Department of Immigration and Citizenship was unable to comment.