A 40-year-old British woman, Claire Chadwick, and her unborn baby have died in Nigeria after she developed sepsis towards the end of her pregnancy, with her family appealing for funds 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.
According to a report by the Daily Mail on Thursday, the unborn child died in the womb before Chadwick developed sepsis and subsequently died from septic shock.
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body’s immune system overreacts to an infection, causing damage to its own tissues and organs. It can lead to organ failure and, in severe cases, death.
Septic shock is a particularly severe form of sepsis in which a dangerous drop in blood pressure can prevent vital organs from receiving enough blood.
Daily Mail reports that the woman had relocated from the UK to Nigeria to start a new life with her husband, with whom she regularly shared videos about their relationship, faith and food challenges on TikTok and Instagram.
Following her death, her sister, Shannon, launched a GoFundMe appeal seeking £10,000 to cover the costs of bringing Chadwick and her baby back to Britain for burial.
In the appeal titled “Bringing Claire home”, Shannon said the family was struggling with the unexpected logistical and legal requirements involved in repatriating their bodies.
She wrote that the family’s priority 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.
She told WalesOnline that Chadwick was survived by her 19-year-old son, who lives in Wales, her husband and other relatives.
Describing her late sister, Shannon said she was “a woman who lived her life in her own way” and would leave a lasting impression on those who knew her.
She also thanked REST, a charity that supports families dealing with the sudden or tragic deaths of relatives abroad, for its assistance.
Tributes have since been posted on the fundraising page, with friends and acquaintances describing Chadwick as kind, caring and someone who made others laugh.
The Daily Mail reported that it had contacted the UK Foreign Office for comment.
