Friends of content creator Esther Thomas, popularly known as Sunshine, have appealed to the public for support to enable them give her a proper burial.
The appeal was made in a collaborative post shared on Instagram on Tuesday, where her friends also addressed what they described as false narratives surrounding her death and explained the circumstances that led to it.
Speaking on behalf of the group, one of her friends said Sunshine became ill and went to a pharmacy, where she reportedly fainted. According to the account, a good Samaritan rushed her to a hospital, where doctors diagnosed her with an ulcer, a kidney infection and large fibroids.
She was admitted and treated for the ulcer and kidney infection and later underwent surgery to remove the fibroids. The friend said the surgery was successful, but that she later began to feel cold and subsequently died.
They added that Sunshine was an orphan and is survived by only a brother, stressing that their account is the true version of events surrounding her death.
In their caption, the friends wrote, “We the committee of friends are seeking support from the general public as we are now saddled with the responsibility of giving Esther Thomas aka Sunshine a befitting burial.”
They also appealed for urgent assistance, noting that she could not continue to be kept in the mortuary, and called on actors, creatives, fans and members of the public to help. Bank details and contact numbers were shared for support and enquiries.
Sunshine died on January 9 after a fibroid surgery. Her family confirmed her death in an earlier statement, saying burial arrangements were ongoing and asking friends and supporters to respect their privacy.
She was known for her skits, modelling work, brand engagements and video appearances, and had built a growing presence across social media platforms.
