A Marine Corps veteran and retired Illinois firefighter has been hospitalized for over a year with permanent brain injuries, which are allegedly the result of consuming contaminated raw oysters. The incident occurred on June 30, 2025, after the individual, identified as Joe Belgio, dined at Gibsons Steakhouse & Bar in Oak Brook, Illinois.
According to a lawsuit obtained by ABC 7 Chicago, Belgio went into cardiac arrest and subsequently fell into a months-long coma. The lawsuit states that he suffered permanent brain damage as a consequence of eating the allegedly contaminated oysters. The veteran has remained hospitalized since the incident.