A Marine Corps veteran and retired Illinois firefighter is hospitalized with permanent brain damage he allegedly sustained after consuming contaminated raw oysters at a steakhouse. Joe Belgio, 44, reportedly went into cardiac arrest and a prolonged coma following a meal at Gibsons Steakhouse & Bar in Oak Brook on June 30, 2025.
Belgio’s fiancée, Melanie Stayer, stated that the incident occurred while they were celebrating with family. Three days after eating the oysters, Belgio experienced cardiac arrest and lost consciousness for at least eight minutes, according to his attorney, Scott O’Sullivan. He was revived by the Cicero Fire Department, where he had previously served, and subsequently transported to the hospital.
Doctors identified several pathogens in Belgio's system, with the lawsuit alleging he contracted Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) and Plesiomonas shigelloides from the oysters. Belgio spent months in a coma and now requires continuous medical care, with his attorney indicating he is likely to be bedridden for life with significant cognitive impairment.
The lawsuit also names two seafood suppliers, Supreme Lobster and Seafood Company, as defendants. The family has established a GoFundMe to assist with Belgio's care, noting his service as a Marine Corps veteran, an Iraq War veteran, and a firefighter dedicated to protecting others. The campaign has raised over $85,000, while Belgio’s medical bills have reportedly exceeded $1 million.
A spokesperson for Gibsons Steakhouse & Bar issued a statement to ABC 7 Chicago, asserting that there have been no other reported cases of illness and that the establishment has no evidence of causing Belgio's condition. The restaurant expressed confidence that a thorough legal process would support this conclusion.