Marine vet, retired firefighter Joe Belgio suffers everlasting mind injury after allegedly consuming contaminated oysters at Illinois steakhouse
A Marine Corps veteran and retired Illinois firefighter has been hospitalized for greater than a yr with everlasting mind accidents allegedly attributable to consuming uncooked oysters.
Joe Belgio, 44, allegedly went into cardiac arrest, fell right into a months-long coma and suffered everlasting mind injury after consuming contaminated oysters at Gibsons Steakhouse & Bar in Oak Brook — about 15 miles west of downtown Chicago — on June 30, 2025, based on a lawsuit obtained by ABC 7 Chicago.
Belgio’s fiancée, Melanie Stayer, mentioned the couple was out celebrating with household when he ate the oysters earlier than he fell gravely unwell.
“This was an informal day with an informal man at a restaurant that he wished to have a good time life along with his household, and life can change so rapidly,” Stayer advised the outlet, including that the couple had simply welcomed their five-month-old daughter, Carmela, into the world on the time.
Belgio then went into cardiac arrest three days after consuming the oysters, and “misplaced consciousness and oxygen for a minimum of eight minutes,” his lawyer, Scott O’Sullivan, advised the outlet.
O’Sullivan mentioned Belgio was revived by the Cicero Hearth Division, the identical division through which he had beforehand served, earlier than being rushed to the hospital.
His lawyer mentioned medical doctors screened Belgio for micro organism and located a number of pathogens in his system.
The lawsuit alleges Belgio contracted two harmful micro organism from the oysters — Enteropathogenic E. coli, referred to as EPEC, and Plesiomonas shigelloides, CBS Information reported.
The 44-year-old spent months in a coma after falling unwell and has since been confined to a hospital mattress — requiring around-the-clock care.
“He’s almost certainly bedridden for the remainder of his life,” O’Sullivan mentioned. “He’s extraordinarily mind broken, with little or no cognitive capability, and can want look after the remainder of his life.”
Gibsons launched an announcement to ABC 7 Chicago saying “there have been no different reported instances of sickness.”
“Primarily based on the information and our inner investigation, there is no such thing as a proof to counsel that our institution brought on his well being situation. We’re assured {that a} honest and thorough authorized course of will agree with this conclusion,” a spokesperson for the steakhouse mentioned.
Two different seafood suppliers, Supreme Lobster and Seafood Firm, have additionally been named within the lawsuit, based on ABC 7 Chicago.
A GoFundMe set as much as assist Belgio and his household pay for care describes him as a loving father, Little League coach and “a person devoted to service.”
“An ex-Marine and firefighter who has devoted his life to defending others and serving his nation,” the web page reads.
“He accomplished a brave tour of obligation in Iraq, demonstrating unwavering loyalty and coronary heart each step of the way in which. Joe has all the time been the primary to assist when assist is required.”
Since launching on July 8, 2025, the web page has raised over $85,000.
Belgio has already racked up greater than $1 million in medical payments, CBS Information reported.
