The 43-year-old Nigerian-British businessman Igho Ubiribo was receiving a massage at a Marriott hotel in Bangkok when he complained of severe chest pain. He collapsed, briefly regained consciousness, then passed out again. Paramedics rushed him to Sukhumvit Hospital, where doctors suspected a pulmonary embolism. He lost consciousness before a CT scan could be performed. Despite more than 100 minutes of CPR in intensive care, he died in the early hours of March 6.
A UK coroner later ruled that Ubiribo died from a pulmonary embolism caused by penis filler injections he received in Thailand. The treatment involved 40 millilitres of hyaluronic acid mixed with lidocaine, a local anaesthetic. Hyaluronic acid is a filler commonly used in cosmetic procedures to add volume.
The inquest, held at Inner West London Coroners' Court, heard that Ubiribo travelled to Bangkok with his wife, fashion designer Danielle Simba Allen, for a luxury vacation. While there, he decided to undergo the penis enlargement procedure at a clinic. After the treatment, the couple returned to their hotel for a massage, where the collapse occurred.
A postmortem examination carried out in the UK found cellular material inside Ubiribo's lungs that matched the hyaluronic acid used during the procedure. Pathologist John du Parcq told the inquest: "The material found in his lungs matched the substance used during the cosmetic procedure." He added that the findings were consistent with both a pulmonary embolism and the earlier Thai autopsy.
Coroner Jean Harkin ruled that Ubiribo died from a pulmonary embolism caused by the cosmetic procedure.
A pulmonary embolism happens when something blocks one of the arteries supplying blood to the lungs. Most cases are caused by blood clots, but foreign materials entering the bloodstream can also create dangerous blockages. When this happens, oxygen flow drops suddenly, putting enormous strain on the heart. Without urgent treatment, the condition can become fatal within minutes or hours.
Penis fillers using hyaluronic acid have become increasingly popular because they offer a non-surgical way to increase penis girth. Unlike implants or surgery, the treatment usually involves injections and patients often return home the same day. However, urologists and cosmetic medicine specialists have repeatedly warned that these procedures carry risks, including vascular occlusion, a blocked blood vessel. The fillers are also not permanent. In most cases, hyaluronic acid is naturally broken down by the body over several months, meaning repeat treatments are often needed to maintain results.
Medical records presented during the inquest showed that Ubiribo had previously undergone joint surgery. His GP said he was pre-diabetic and had gout, but noted no other major underlying medical conditions. The coroner concluded that the cosmetic procedure itself triggered the fatal pulmonary embolism.
Ubiribo, also known as "Tiny," "Denisi," and "Ego," was a social media influencer with around 185,000 Instagram followers, where he showcased a luxurious lifestyle. He owned a home in Los Angeles worth about $1.1 million and an apartment in London valued at roughly $600,000. He married Allen in an extravagant wedding held in Zimbabwe in 2022.
Following his death, he was buried in London in a gold coffin reportedly worth more than $600,000. Afrobeats superstar Davido, described as one of his childhood friends, attended the funeral and paid tribute. "He was a man of great energy and presence," Davido said, adding that Ubiribo's death was difficult to accept.
According to Pulse.ng.
