Former veteran and firefighter allegedly falls into coma and suffers brain damage after one fateful meal at Illinois restaurant

A former firefighter and Marine Corps veteran who allegedly ate raw oysters from a steakhouse in Illinois has been hospitalized for over a year. A lawsuit suggests that the meal may have seriously changed his life for the worse, as his legal team claimed that he was suffering from permanent brain damage.

Joe Belgio, 44, had been celebrating at Gibsons Steakhouse & Bar in Oak Brook, 15 miles west of Downtown Chicago. He had been with his family when the fateful incident occurred, according to his fiancée, Melanie Stayer. According to an article from the New York Post, Belgio fell gravely ill after eating the contaminated oysters and allegedly went into cardiac arrest three days after eating the meal.

Stayer, who at the time had only recently had a daughter with Belgio, spoke of the suddenness of it all, claiming it “was a casual day with a casual man at a restaurant that he wanted to celebrate life with his family, and life can change so quickly.”

Joe Belgio lost consciousness and oxygen

According to Belgio’s lawyer, Scott O’Sullivan, when the 44-year-old went into cardiac arrest, he “lost consciousness and oxygen for at least eight minutes.” His lawyer claimed that Belgio was revived by the Cicero Fire Department, the very same department for which he had previously served as a firefighter himself.

Belgio was subsequently screened by doctors who found two dangerous forms of bacteria in his system: Enteropathogenic E. coli, AKA EPEC, and Plesiomonas shigelloides.

Following his illness, Joe Belgio spent months in a coma. Even now, he is still reportedly bound to a hospital bed, requiring round-the-clock care. O’Sullivan claimed that his client would be “most likely bedridden for the rest of his life,” adding, “He is extremely brain damaged, with very little cognitive capacity, and will need care for the rest of his life.”

Since the incident, Joe Belgio has reportedly accumulated more than $1 million in medical bills. A GoFundMe has since been set up and has raised $88,000. The description touched on Joe’s former service: “He completed a courageous tour of duty in Iraq, demonstrating unwavering loyalty and heart every step of the way.”

Gibsons Steakhouse & Bar in Oak Brook responds

In a statement to ABC 7 Chicago, a spokesperson for Gibsons Oak Brook disputed the allegations suggesting the food was unsafe. “There have been no other reported cases of illness. Based on the facts and our internal investigation, there is no evidence to suggest that our establishment caused his health condition.”

The lawsuit against the steakhouse also named two other seafood suppliers: Supreme Lobster and Seafood Company. However, the Gibsons spokesperson expressed confidence “that a fair and thorough legal process will agree with this conclusion.”