The final videos of a pregnant British woman who died alongside her unborn child offer a glimpse into the new life she built in Nigeria with her husband.
Claire Chadwick, who was 37 weeks pregnant, was captured turning towards the camera and smiling in the last known images of her. The footage was shared one week before her death on October 29.
She developed sepsis and died from septic shock after her baby girl passed away in the womb.
Described as funny and fiercely strong-minded, Claire was expecting a child with her husband Ibrahim, who regularly documented their life together and shared heartfelt tributes to his wife on social media.
Ms Chadwick, 40, previously lived in Cardiff and had a 19-year-old son in Wales. She married Ibrahim last December.
The couple built a following of thousands by sharing moments from their daily lives online.
On platforms including TikTok and Instagram, they often took part in food challenges, competing against each other through games of rock, paper, scissors.
The head-to-head contests, in which they challenged one another to eat the most food, attracted fans from across the world.
The final videos of Ms Chadwick, posted a week before her death, showed the couple eating egusi soup and Claire relaxing on a sofa inside their home.
Claire Chadwick, who was 37 weeks pregnant, developed sepsis and died from septic shock on October 29 after her baby girl died in the womb. She is pictured recording a food challenge with her husband Ibrahim
A final video shared of Ms Chadwick showed her smiling at the camera inside the couple’s home in Nigeria
Ms Chadwick, 40, had a 19-year-old son living in Wales and previously lived in Cardiff before marrying Ibrahim last December
Wearing a white bathrobe, Ms Chadwick turns towards the camera and smiles.
In earlier posts, her husband described her as “just the best” and “my best friend and partner in everything”.
One video was captioned, “we may not have it all, but we’ve got each other,” while another carried the simple message: “Love is the answer”.
Their videos showed them dancing at home, visiting the beach and helping to style each other’s hair.
After her death, Ms Chadwick’s devastated family, including her two sisters and brother, launched a GoFundMe to bring her 3,000 miles home to the UK.
“More than anything, we want them both returned so they can be laid to rest with dignity, surrounded by the family who love them,” her sister Shannon said.
She said Claire’s son, husband and wider family “loved her dearly”.
“She was a woman who lived her life in her own way and she will leave a lasting impression on everyone who knew her,” Shannon told WalesOnline.
The couple shared popular social media videos about their life together, with Ibrahim frequently expressing his love for his wife
Their videos included scenes of them dancing at home and styling each other’s hair
Ibrahim also paid tribute to Ms Chadwick and thanked her family in Wales for their support.
“Words cannot adequately express the pain, emptiness and heartbreak that come with losing the two people who meant so much to me,” he said.
“This is an incredibly difficult time for me and both our families, and I am still trying to come to terms with this painful reality.
“Claire was my wife, my best friend, my companion and an irreplaceable part of my life.
“Our little one was a blessing we were so eagerly looking forward to welcoming. They will forever remain in my heart.”
He added: “I want to express my deepest condolences and heartfelt appreciation to Claire’s entire family during this devastating time. I know that this loss is deeply painful for all of us, and my heart goes out to everyone who loved her.
“Thank you for standing together, for your love, kindness and support, and especially for taking the initiative to organise the GoFundMe to help bring Claire home so she can be laid to rest.
“Your efforts, generosity and support mean more to me than words can express. I am deeply grateful to every member of the family.”
Social media posts from before Ms Chadwick moved to Nigeria show that she regularly attended the gym and enjoyed family holidays with her son.
Claire Chadwick, pictured with her husband Ibrahim, was 37 weeks pregnant when she died from septic shock
The 40-year-old moved to Nigeria to be with her husband and gained thousands of social media followers in recent years
Shannon said the response to the fundraiser had been “overwhelming” and thanked charity REST, which supports families bereaved after sudden or tragic deaths abroad.
Tributes have also appeared on the GoFundMe page launched by Claire’s family, with supporters describing the 40-year-old as lovely and kind.
“So, so sorry to hear this,” one person wrote. “I remember Claire from when we were little and went dancing together. My mum actually has a few pictures of us all somewhere.
“Rest in peace, lovely.”
“I’m so devastated; she was such a kind and caring woman,” another supporter wrote. A third added: “She was such a beautiful girl. Always made people laugh.”
Our News Outlet has contacted the Foreign Office for comment.
