A Marine Corps veteran and retired Illinois firefighter has reportedly been left with permanent brain damage and confined to a hospital bed after allegedly becoming seriously ill from contaminated raw oysters at a Chicago-area steakhouse.

Joe Belgio, 44, was enjoying a family celebration at Gibsons Steakhouse & Bar in Oak Brook, Illinois, on June 30, 2025, when he ate raw oysters.

Three days later, his life changed dramatically.

According to a lawsuit obtained by ABC 7 Chicago, Belgio suffered cardiac arrest and lost consciousness after becoming severely ill.

His attorney, Scott O’Sullivan, said Belgio went without oxygen for at least eight minutes before being revived by the Cicero Fire Department — the same department where he had previously worked as a firefighter.

Belgio was then rushed to a hospital, where doctors began searching for the cause of his sudden and devastating illness.

Medical testing reportedly detected multiple types of bacteria in his system.

The lawsuit alleges that Belgio contracted two potentially dangerous bacteria from the oysters: Enteropathogenic E. coli, or EPEC, and Plesiomonas shigelloides.

After the cardiac arrest, Belgio fell into a coma that lasted for months.

He eventually regained consciousness but was left with severe and permanent neurological damage.

According to his attorney, the former firefighter now requires around-the-clock care and is expected to remain bedridden for the rest of his life.

“He is most likely bedridden for the rest of his life,” O’Sullivan told ABC 7 Chicago.

The attorney said Belgio has extremely limited cognitive abilities as a result of the brain injury and will require lifelong assistance.

The devastating illness came at a particularly heartbreaking time for Belgio and his family.

His fiancée, Melanie Stayer, said the couple had been out celebrating with relatives when Belgio ate the oysters.

The couple had recently welcomed their daughter, Carmela, who was just five months old at the time.

“This 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,” Stayer said.

Belgio’s background makes his condition even more difficult for his family to accept.

He is a Marine Corps veteran and former Illinois firefighter who has spent much of his life serving and protecting others.

A GoFundMe campaign established to help his family describes Belgio as a devoted father, Little League coach and a man committed to helping those around him.

The fundraiser says Belgio completed a tour of duty in Iraq and was known for being the first person to step forward whenever someone needed help.

The lawsuit names Gibsons Steakhouse & Bar as well as two seafood suppliers, Supreme Lobster and Seafood Company.

Gibsons, however, has denied that its restaurant caused Belgio’s medical condition.

“There have been no other reported cases of illness,” a spokesperson for the steakhouse told ABC 7 Chicago.

The restaurant said its own investigation found no evidence connecting the establishment to Belgio’s condition and expressed confidence that the legal process would ultimately support its position.

Meanwhile, Belgio’s family continues to face the enormous financial and emotional consequences of his illness.

According to CBS News, his medical expenses have already surpassed $1 million.

A GoFundMe campaign launched July 8, 2025, has raised more than $85,000 to help cover his medical care and support his family.

For Belgio’s loved ones, the case represents a devastating turn of events: a family celebration that began as an ordinary day ended with a decorated Marine veteran and retired firefighter facing lifelong medical care and profound brain injuries.

Source: nypost.com