Featured Image Credit: YouTube/The O'Sullivan Law Firm/Instagram/@justbillyleblanc
Topics: Health, Food and Drink
Lucy Devine
Topics: Health, Food and Drink
A dire warning from an 'oyster lawyer' is particularly chilling following the death of a woman who died after eating the seafood.
YouTuber Billy LeBlanc woke up in his local intensive care unit this week, where he discovered the tragic news that his partner, Natalie Clark, had passed away.
Natalie and Billy had both contracted a deadly virus called Vibrio Vulnificus, after consuming a batch of oysters contaminated with the bacteria.
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Taking to social media following the devastating events, Billy explained to his followers: "We ate oysters and we both felt sick for a couple days and then I woke up and she was gone."
Billy spent 12 days in hospital with Natalie, after contracting the deadly virus himself.
Eight of those days were spent receiving intensive care, after which he thankfully recovered.
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Posting a series of photos of the pair online, Billy wrote: "I’m sure none of you know but I recently almost died.
"I was in the hospital for 12 days. Unfortunately Natalie didn’t make it and she passed away.
"I will always remember how we got lost everywhere together. I will always love her and miss her.
"Be safe and hold your loved ones tight you, never know when it’ll be the last time you see them."
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People have been left horrified by the incident, with many questioning how the bacteria could be so fatal.
Most Vibrio Vulnificus infections are caused by eating raw or undercooked shellfish, especially oysters.
It's particularly concerning because you can't tell if the seafood is contaminated as there's no change to the smell or taste.
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However, as well as eating contaminated seafood, the bacteria can also be spread if cuts or grazes on the skin are exposed to contaminated water.
The devastating case of Billy and Natalie isn't isolated. In 2018, a man in Florida died after eating an infected oyster, meanwhile around 100 cases are reported each year in the US.
Scott O'Sullivan calls himself an 'oyster lawyer' due to the fact he deals exclusively with lawsuits regarding the contaminated seafood.
Speaking about Vibrio Vulnificus infections in a 2015 video, Scott warned: "This bacteria is the number one seafood-borne illness in America.
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"If you're unlucky enough to eat an oyster with it, you won't even know or taste or smell it, but if it gets into your blood system, you've got a 50 percent chance of dying and if you live, you can lose your legs.
"It is a horrific bacteria."
Speaking to Tyla, Dr Claire Merrifield - medical director at Selph - has lifted the lid on what exactly makes this particularly popular delicacy a risk to consumers.
"Oysters are filter feeders," the medic initially told us. "This means that any bacteria and viruses they come into contact with in the water can become concentrated within the body of the oyster.
"Bacteria like Vibrio vulnifucus live naturally in coastal waters and oysters that feed in water with a high concentration of these bacteria are likely to be infectious to humans if eaten raw."
Whilst Dr Merrifield went on to emphasise that while most oysters don't pose a detrimental risk to our health, they could carry harmful bacteria, and being that not every oyster can be tested, the risk is ever-present.