Nigerian woman dies after arriving UK for son’s graduation

MaTaZ ArIsInG
Dallas, Texas

A Nigerian woman, Oluranti Akinyemi, has died in the United Kingdom shortly after reportedly arriving in the country for her son’s graduation ceremony.

PUNCH Metro learnt that a fundraising campaign was launched on JustGiving to raise £20,000 to repatriate her remains to Nigeria and cover related expenses. As of Wednesday, £2,087 had been raised from 97 donors.

In the appeal posted on the platform, Adekunle Ogundana said the funds would be used for her repatriation and funeral.

“Help us bring our sister, mother, friend and beloved home, Mrs Oluranti Olufunmilayo Esther Akinyemi (née Oluwalana/Ogundana),” he wrote.

According to the post, Akinyemi travelled to the UK to attend her son’s graduation but suffered a cardiac arrest less than 20 hours after arrival.

“She suffered a sudden cardiac arrest in the middle of the night and was rushed to Luton and Dunstable Hospital. After three days on life support, she was declared clinically dead,” the statement read.

The family described the incident as sudden and devastating, noting that funds were urgently needed to repatriate her body to Nigeria, settle outstanding medical bills in the UK, and cover funeral expenses.

Akinyemi, believed to be a mother of four, reportedly arrived in the UK on February 11 for a graduation scheduled for February 18.

A UK-based X user, @DHKRULLAH, who shared the fundraising link, stated that she suffered cardiac arrest on February 12 and remained in a coma for three days before she was confirmed dead on February 14, 2026.

Following the incident, some social media users advised families to take precautionary health measures when elderly relatives travel abroad.

One user, @agu_i, urged travellers to stay hydrated, avoid excessive alcohol and caffeine, move around during long flights, and consider compression socks to aid circulation.

“These will help keep blood circulation active and warm enough to welcome cold weather. This is not the first time we are losing our parents to the cold hands of death in a similar situation,” the post read.

Another user, @The4thTobs, recounted a similar incident involving a woman who reportedly collapsed after arriving in the UK for childcare support.

“This was how a woman I used to know in Sangotedo market died a few years ago. Her daughter gave birth abroad, and she went for omugwo.

“They said she collapsed as soon as she got out of the plane when they landed, and they took her to the hospital, and she was confirmed dead,” @The4thTobs noted.

A user, @iamSwagga22, called for better medical collaboration between health authorities and the aviation industry to address travel-related health emergencies.

“If Nigeria were a serious, sensible country, we should have a Pulmonary Embolism Team that works diligently with the aviation industry to create a guideline,” @iamSwagga22.

The incident comes amid reports of other Nigerian deaths in the UK, including that of Saburi Adeniji, who died after battling a severe brain stem injury.

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