A luxury holiday in Thailand has ended in tragedy for a 43-year-old Nigerian-British businessman and social media influencer after a cosmetic penis enlargement procedure was linked to his death.

Igho Ubiribo, popularly known by the nicknames “Tiny,” “Denisi” and “Ego,” reportedly travelled to Bangkok with his wife, Danielle Simba Allen, for what was described as a luxury getaway. During the trip in March, he decided to undergo a non-surgical penis enlargement procedure at an unnamed clinic.

According to evidence presented at an inquest and reported by the Daily Mail, about 40 millilitres of hyaluronic acid and lidocaine were injected into Ubiribo’s penis during the procedure.

What was expected to be a cosmetic treatment, however, was followed by a medical emergency that eventually claimed his life.

After the procedure, Ubiribo and his wife reportedly returned to their Marriott hotel and went for a massage. It was during the massage that he complained of chest pain before losing consciousness.

He was rushed by ambulance to Sukhumvit Hospital, where he was initially responsive and able to answer questions. His wife reportedly informed doctors that he had recently undergone penis filler injections.

Medical staff suspected that he had suffered a pulmonary embolism and recommended a CT scan to determine the cause of his condition. But before the scan could be performed, Ubiribo reportedly lost consciousness again.

He was subsequently taken to an intensive care unit, where medical personnel performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation for more than 100 minutes in an effort to save his life.

The attempt was unsuccessful. Ubiribo died in the early hours of March 6.

Inquest Links Death to Cosmetic Procedure

The circumstances surrounding his death later became the subject of an inquest in the UK.

A postmortem examination conducted in Britain reportedly found cellular material in Ubiribo’s lungs that was consistent with the hyaluronic acid used during the cosmetic procedure.

Pathologist John du Parcq told the inquest that the material discovered in the deceased’s lungs matched the substance used in the filler treatment.

He said the findings were consistent with a pulmonary embolism and were also in line with the findings of a Thai autopsy.

Following the evidence presented at the hearing, coroner Jean Harkin ruled that Ubiribo died from a pulmonary embolism caused by the cosmetic procedure.

A pulmonary embolism occurs when a blood vessel supplying the lungs becomes blocked. The condition can become life-threatening because the blockage can suddenly interfere with blood flow through the lungs and place severe pressure on the heart.

The inquest also heard evidence concerning Ubiribo’s medical history.

His London primary care doctor reportedly provided information indicating that he had previously undergone surgery on his joints and had been described as pre-diabetic and suffering from gout. However, the doctor reportedly told the inquest that Ubiribo had no other significant medical conditions.

Growing Attention on Injectable Enlargement Procedures

Ubiribo’s death has drawn renewed attention to cosmetic procedures involving injectable fillers, including those marketed as non-surgical methods of increasing penis girth.

Hyaluronic acid fillers are used in a variety of cosmetic treatments, and penis fillers are promoted as an alternative to surgical enlargement procedures. The effects are generally temporary, with the injected material gradually absorbed by the body over several months.

Such treatments can cost thousands of dollars, depending on the provider and procedure.

But Ubiribo’s case has highlighted the potential for serious complications. In his case, evidence presented to the coroner linked material consistent with the injected hyaluronic acid to his lungs, forming the basis for the finding that the cosmetic procedure caused the fatal pulmonary embolism.

A Life of Luxury Ends in Shock

Away from the circumstances of his death, Ubiribo had built a public image around wealth, travel and an affluent lifestyle.

The businessman frequently documented his lifestyle on social media and reportedly had about 185,000 followers on Instagram. He owned a home in Los Angeles valued at approximately $1.1 million and an apartment in London estimated at about $600,000.

He married Allen, a fashion designer and socialite, in a lavish ceremony in Zimbabwe in 2022.

His funeral was similarly extravagant. Following his death, Ubiribo was reportedly buried in London in a gold coffin said to have cost more than $600,000.

Among those who attended the funeral was Nigerian Afrobeats superstar Davido, who was described as Ubiribo’s childhood friend.

Davido reportedly spoke at the funeral and expressed shock at the sudden death of his friend, describing him as a man whose energy and presence made his passing particularly difficult to accept.

The contrast between Ubiribo’s affluent public lifestyle and the circumstances surrounding his final days has since attracted considerable attention.