“The night before, everything was perfectly fine”
16:17, 15 Oct 2025Updated 17:33, 15 Oct 2025
Joshua was found by his brothers
Tributes have been paid to a “super fit” young man who suddenly died in his university accommodation, hours after saying he felt unwell.
Joshua Adiefeh told fellow students he had an upset stomach prior to being discovered unresponsive by his brothers on September 28.
The 20-year-old, originally from Nottingham, was a first year accounting and finance student at the Manchester Metropolitan University.He had been at university for just two weeks.
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, his brothers described what the final hours of Joshua’s life – as they desperately tried to help him.
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Joel, Joshua’s twin, said: “The night before, everything was perfectly fine.
“Then as time went by, he started to get sick and that’s when the symptoms started to show. At that point, he wasn’t taking it too seriously because it was all under control.”
According to Joel, Joshua’s health worsened, prompting him to call the ambulance. However, he says that the emergency services did not attend the flat.
Joshua was found by his twin brothers inside his university accomadation
“They told me to get him some paracetamol and I had already called my older brother who was on his way,” he continued.
“I met my brother outside the [accommodation] and we went up and found him the way he was. He was in a very bad shape, unable to move.
“He wasn’t responding to anyone. We tried to put him on his side, still no progress, the ambulance arrived, they tried everything.
“Me, my brother and some of his friends were waiting in the kitchen, and after they tried everything, they’d tried everything and there’s nothing else they could have done.”
Described as a hard working, friendly and a “man of faith”, Josh’s family say they are still confused as to what lead to his death.
Daniel said: “That’s the thing, he was a super fit. Even from his physique you could tell that he was a very fit young man.
“He would do different diets, like only eating once a day, in order to remain in peak condition, and sometimes they would make him vomit. Being such a hard worker, he would vomit and carry on working.”
Reflecting on the loss of his twin brother, Joel added: “I saw him as someone who worked harder than everybody else while looking out for everybody at the same time.”
“He was selfless and always there for people when they needed him, he was just a fun person to be around all the time.
“He lifts your mood all the time by being around, when he was around I never, ever, ever felt uncomfortable. I always in my element when he was around.
“We did everything together, from birth to the day he died. There was not a day that passed where we didn’t speak.
Daniel added: “He was a man of faith and a loving person overall. If I was to use a word to describe my brother, it would be ‘clean hearted’.
“He wanted to be successful to be able to look after people and spread a positive image of our family so everyone around him could benefit.”
The family has set up a Go Fund Me to support them with funeral costs, more details can be found here.