A Ghanaian woman, Mercy Yaaba Bredu, has died in China after reportedly collapsing at an airport shortly after travelling from Ghana to pursue a master’s degree.
Bredu left Ghana on Monday, August 24, 2026, with plans to begin a new chapter in her academic journey. According to reports from her former university colleagues, she fell ill shortly after arriving in China and was rushed to hospital for medical attention.
She reportedly died on Wednesday, August 26, just two days after leaving Ghana.
According to information shared by her former colleagues, Bredu complained of heart pain during the flight, which departed Ghana at about 1:30 p.m. Shortly after arriving in China, she reportedly collapsed while receiving a bouquet of flowers at the airport.
She was subsequently taken to a hospital, where medical personnel reportedly worked to stabilise her condition. Despite the efforts, she died on Wednesday.
A journey that ended tragically
Bredu had travelled to China with plans to further her education after graduating with first-class honours. She had reportedly secured scholarships to study in both the United States and China before choosing China for her next academic chapter.
She also hoped to explore opportunities in the import business while pursuing her studies.
Her sudden death has left former classmates, friends and colleagues mourning the loss of a young woman whose journey abroad had only just begun.
Bredu was a former Vice President of the Association of Students of English (ASSENS) at the University of Education, Winneba, where she served in 2024.
Her former colleagues have since expressed shock and sadness following news of her death, with tributes expected to emerge as details of her passing become known.
Family and friends mourn
Images shared from her departure showed Bredu with family members at the Accra International Airport shortly before she left Ghana for China.
What was expected to be the beginning of an important academic journey instead ended in tragedy, leaving her family and loved ones to deal with the loss thousands of kilometres from home.
The circumstances surrounding her collapse and death have not been fully established publicly. GhanaMedia.net will update this report if further verified information becomes available.
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Source: MyJoyOnline, with additional information attributed to former university colleagues of the deceased.
