Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
A 40-year-old British woman, Claire Chadwick, and her unborn daughter have died in Nigeria following complications from sepsis during the final weeks of her pregnancy, prompting her family to launch a £10,000 fundraising appeal to return their bodies to the United Kingdom.
Chadwick was 37 weeks pregnant and expecting a baby girl with her husband, Ibrahim, when the tragedy occurred. The unborn child died in the womb before Chadwick developed sepsis and subsequently died from septic shock.
According to the Daily Mail on Thursday, the family is now seeking financial assistance to cover the legal and logistical expenses involved in repatriating both bodies to Britain for burial.
Sepsis is a life-threatening medical condition in which the body’s immune response to an infection damages its own tissues and organs. In severe cases, it can lead to organ failure and death. Septic shock is an advanced form of the condition characterised by a dangerous drop in blood pressure that can deprive vital organs of adequate blood supply.
Chadwick had relocated from the United Kingdom to Nigeria to begin a new life with her husband. The couple regularly shared videos documenting their relationship, religious faith and food challenges on TikTok and Instagram.
Following their deaths, Chadwick’s sister, Shannon, established a GoFundMe campaign titled “Bringing Claire home”, with a target of £10,000 to facilitate the return of her sister and the unborn baby to Britain.
In the fundraising appeal, Shannon explained that the family was struggling with the unexpected legal and logistical requirements associated with repatriating their bodies.
She said their greatest wish was to have both returned to the UK so they could be buried close to their loved ones.
“More than anything, we want them both returned so they can be laid to rest with dignity, surrounded by the family who love them,” Shannon said.
Speaking to WalesOnline, Shannon disclosed that Chadwick was survived by her 19-year-old son, who lives in Wales, her husband and other relatives.
Describing her sister, she said she was “a woman who lived her life in her own way” and would be remembered for the lasting impression she made on those around her.
Shannon also expressed gratitude to REST, a charity that supports families dealing with the sudden or tragic deaths of relatives abroad, for assisting the family.
Tributes have continued to appear on the fundraising page, with friends and acquaintances remembering Chadwick as a kind and caring woman who brought laughter to those around her.
The Daily Mail said it had contacted the UK Foreign Office for comment on the incident.
