Man, 44, eats raw oysters in US, suffers heart attack, brain damage & goes into coma

A 44-year-old American man reportedly suffered a heart attack and was in a coma for a few months after eating contaminated raw oysters in Oak Brook, Illinois, United States.

Joe Belgio apparently contracted Enteropathogenic E. coli and Plesiomonas shigelloides after consuming the oysters from a restaurant, CBS News and ABC7 reported.

Lawsuit

In June 2025, Belgio was celebrating with his family at Gibsons Steakhouse when he apparently consumed the oysters.

On Aug. 10, 2026, Belgio’s lawyers announced that a lawsuit had been filed on behalf of Belgio against the restaurant.

They claimed that Belgio, a retired firefighter and a former U.S. soldier, suffered a massive heart attack that resulted in an anoxic brain injury.

“He ended up getting very, very ill, and resulting in cardiac arrests where he lost consciousness and oxygen for at least eight minutes,” his lawyers said.

His lawyers added that physicians treating Belgio "determined to a reasonable degree of medical certainty" that his illness was caused by consuming the contaminated oysters.

Belgio apparently requires specialised brain-injury rehabilitation, additional therapeutic care and specialised support.

"He is most likely bedridden for the rest of his life. He is extremely brain damaged, with very little cognitive capacity, and will need care for the rest of his life," his lawyers said.

He also purportedly had medical bills amounting to about US$1 million (S$1.28 million) as a result of his illnesses.

Belgio is apparently seeking damages from the restaurant to help cover the costs.

His lawsuit also named two other establishments, Supreme Lobster and Seafood Company, as defendants.

Gibsons Steakhouse

In response to queries, Gibsons Restaurant Group acknowledged the impact of Belgio’s experiences as “tragic”.

“We recognise the seriousness of what he is facing and wish him a full recovery,” they said.

They added that they take food safety “extremely seriously” and is focused on “providing a superior and safe dining experience”.

However, they denied the allegations as “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. We are confident that a fair and thorough legal process will agree with this conclusion," they said.