YouTuber Billy LeBlanc Reveals His Partner Died Of 'Flesh-Eating Bacteria From Oysters'

YouTuber Billy LeBlanc, best known for his family channel Bratayley shared sad news on Instagram as he announced that his partner Natalie Clark lost her life after contracting the vibrio vulnificus infection. The couple reportedly got the infection from eating raw oysters. While Billy LeBlanc survived it after staying 8 days in the ICU, his partner Natalie Clark lost her life.

In an Instagram post, Billy LeBlanc shared a series of photos with Natalie Clark and 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." In a comment, he wrote, “We both got vibrio vulnificus from raw oysters"

A week ago, Billy LeBlanc’s mother, Yvette Berthelot LeBlanc, shared the incident on Facebook. She wrote, “Billy and Natalie ate raw oysters and contracted a deadly virus Natalie lost her life and Billy was very close to death. In ICU for 8 days. Please continue to pray for Natalie’s son Julian for her family and for Billy, both for his health and his heart."

According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the United States, the vibrio are bacteria that are found in coastal waters. A specific type of vibrio bacteria, called vibrio vulnificus, can cause life-threatening infections. Most people get the vibrio vibriosis infection by eating raw or undercooked shellfish, particularly oysters. Some people also get vibrio vibriosis after an open wound comes in contact with coastal waters. In many cases, this infection causes the wound around the infection to die, which is why it has been named “flesh-eating bacteria."

The vibrio vulnificus infection requires intensive care and in several cases limb amputations. About 1 in 5 people with this infection die. About 80 per cent of infections happen between May and October when coastal water temperatures are warmer or under 28 degrees Celsius. When ingested, the symptoms of vibrio vulnificus infection are diarrhoea, cramping, nausea and fever. The symptoms occur within 24 hours of ingestion.