A Nigerian woman, Oluranti Akinyemi, has died in the United Kingdom shortly after reportedly arriving in the country for her son’s graduation ceremony.
According to PUNCH Metro, Akinyemi, believed to be a mother of four, travelled to the UK on February 11 for a graduation scheduled for February 18.
According to a fundraising appeal launched on JustGiving, she suffered a sudden 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.
A UK-based X user, @DHKRULLAH, who shared the fundraising link, stated that she suffered cardiac arrest on February 12, remained in a coma for three days, and was confirmed dead on February 14, 2026.
A fundraising campaign was subsequently launched 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 wrote, “Help us bring our sister, mother, friend and beloved home, Mrs Oluranti Olufunmilayo Esther Akinyemi (née Oluwalana/Ogundana).”
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.
Following the incident, some social media users urged families to take precautionary health measures when elderly relatives travel abroad.
One user, @agu_i, advised 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 case 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,” the user stated.
A third user, @iamSwagga22, called for stronger collaboration between health authorities and the aviation industry to address travel-related medical 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,” the post read.
