Jamie Sangouthai, a close friend of Khloe Kardashian and her estranged husband Lamar Odom, died from a bacterial skin infection related to drug use, the LA County coroner confirmed, according to E! News.
Sangouthai died on Sunday of a disease known as necrotizing fasciitis, which is a serious bacterial skin infection that spreads quickly and kills the body's soft tissue. The disease is caused by injections from dirty needles.
Sangouthai visited a Los Angeles hospital with an infection in his arm the day before his death; however, the disease quickly spread and become life-threatening, according to Us Weekly.
"Due to the extent of the infection, the hospital performed surgery to deal with the infection, but the condition quickly overwhelmed what they were able to do for him," the coroner's office told E!.
It was initially reported that Sangouthai died of a heroin overdose.
Sangouthai's friends started a GoFundMe page, which is dedicated to raising money in order to help Sangouthai's with funeral expenses. As of Friday, the page had raised over $16,000.
"As most of you know, our good friend and CK classmate has passed away. Jamie Sangouthai will be missed by so many. Unfortunately, there aren't enough funds to bring him home," the page's creators and Sangouthai's former classmates Willie and Jonie Miranda explained.
"I spoke to his childhood friend Leo and we are doing a fundraiser to help his mom give him a proper burial. I'm asking all of our CK family to please help out," they wrote on the page. "Whether it be in the form of a monetary donation, or prayers being said for his mom and family. Anything you can do will be greatly appreciated."
The message concluded: "We would like to proceed with funeral arrangements as soon as possible. I'm sure we all stand behind the CK Family when one of us is in need. Let's unite and bring Jamie home. God bless you all. If we reach the goal, please keep donating because his mother can use all the help she can get."
Sangouthai appeared on a 2009 episode of the "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" and also made regular appearances on the spinoff series "Khloe & Lamar."
