US3 min(s) read
A YouTuber has issued a heartbreaking warning after revealing that a meal he shared with his girlfriend left her dead and him fighting for his life in hospital.
Billy LeBlanc, known to millions as part of the family behind the popular Bratayley YouTube channel, revealed that he spent almost two weeks recovering in hospital after becoming seriously ill.
However, his girlfriend, Natalie Clark, did not survive after the couple contracted the same infection from the same meal.
Taking to social media to share the devastating news with his followers, LeBlanc 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."
He paid tribute to Clark, adding: "I will always remember how we got lost everywhere together. I will always love her and miss her."
LeBlanc then left his followers with a poignant warning about how quickly life can change, saying: "Be safe and hold your loved ones tight you, never know when it’ll be the last time you see them."
LeBlanc later revealed that he and Clark had both contracted the lethal bacterium Vibrio vulnificus after eating raw oysters.
"We both got Vibrio vulnificus from raw oysters."
Vibrio vulnificus is a type of bacteria that can be found in raw or undercooked seafood and can cause vibriosis. In some cases, the infection can become extremely serious and ultimately lead to sepsis.
Symptoms can develop rapidly and may include fever, chills, vomiting, diarrhea, and skin changes, with severe infections requiring urgent medical treatment.
In a video shared with his followers, LeBlanc went into greater detail about the devastating chain of events.
"So yes, Natalie did pass away," LeBlanc said.
"We ate oysters and we both felt sick for a couple days."
But what happened next left him with little memory of the ordeal.
"Then I woke up and she was gone. I spent 12 days in hospital and eight days in ICU. I don’t remember much of it – I was pretty much out of it most of the time."
LeBlanc thanked people for the messages of support he had received following Clark's death, explaining that he was now trying to process what had happened.
He described himself as being in a "mourning phase" as he dealt with the loss of his partner while recovering from the illness himself.
LeBlanc's mother, Yvette Berthelot LeBlanc, also shared a tribute to Clark and revealed just how close her son had come to dying.
"Natalie lost her life and Billy was very close to death in the ICU for 8 days."
She asked people to continue supporting the family, particularly Clark's son Julian.
"Please continue to pray for Natalie’s son Julian for her family and for Billy, both for his health and his heart."
LeBlanc rose to prominence through Bratayley, a YouTube channel that documented the lives of the LeBlanc family and their children. The channel eventually ended in 2019 following Billy's split from his former wife Katie, after which he went on to create his own channel.
Now, following the loss of Clark, his message to followers is a poignant reminder to take care around food safety.
