Nigerian student dies after asthma attack in London

A Nigerian student who had recently completed his master’s degree in Public Health has died after suffering an asthma attack in London, leaving his family struggling to raise funds to bring his body home for burial.

Obanyeli Jesse Chima, 26, was awaiting his graduation when he collapsed while celebrating his birthday with friends on September 19.

According to MyLondon, Chima had been meeting his friend, Eva, and her partner for a joint birthday celebration when he complained of an asthma attack and stepped outside a lounge to get some air.

He reportedly used three inhalers but continued to struggle to breathe, prompting Eva to call an ambulance.

Chima collapsed while she was speaking to the emergency operator, and his friends began performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) under the operator’s guidance.

Several ambulances arrived, and emergency responders reportedly spent about two hours trying to stabilise him before taking him to hospital, where he was placed on life support.

Eva said doctors initially gave them hope that Chima would recover, but his condition deteriorated.

Two days later, medical tests confirmed that he was brain-dead. He died on September 25.

“It’s horrible because we were just laughing, and four days later, we had to see his lifeless body,” Eva told MyLondon.

She said the birthday gathering had been planned because all three friends had birthdays on consecutive days in September, and that weekend was the only time they could meet.

Chima had recently completed his master’s degree in Public Health and was looking forward to his graduation, with his family having saved money for the occasion.

“His family had saved money for his graduation, and now that money needs to be used to bury their child. It’s horrible,” Eva said.

She described Chima as a beloved friend who was “the life of the party”, adding that his sudden death had shocked those who knew him.

Chima, who supported Chelsea Football Club, had also worked at the club. He leaves behind three siblings in Nigeria.

His family is making arrangements to bring his body back to Nigeria, where relatives want to see him before his burial.

Eva and her friends have launched a fundraising campaign to cover the cost of repatriating his body, mortuary fees and other related expenses.

She said the family had considered burying him in the United Kingdom but preferred to have him laid to rest closer to home, where most of his relatives live.

The fundraising campaign aims to raise between £7,000 and £9,000 to cover the expenses.

Eva said the initiative was intended to ease the financial burden on Chima’s family, noting that international students and their families often face significant financial pressures.

“Nobody has money saved up to bury a child,” she said.