British travel influencer, German tourist die of mysterious illness in Sri Lanka

The household of a 24-year-old British influencer is struggling to marque consciousness of her decease successful Sri Lanka conscionable days aft she embarked connected an Asia-wide sojourn.

Travel influencer Ebony McIntosh died Saturday aft she and a German mates sharing a country astatine a hostel fell violently ill. The German pistillate aboriginal besides died, Sri Lanka’s The Daily Morning reported Wednesday, portion the antheral remained hospitalized.

Sri Lankan constabulary instantly obtained a tribunal bid and shuttered the Miracle Colombo City Hostel wherever they were staying, section media reported. Outlets besides noted that the country had precocious been fumigated for furniture bugs with highly toxic Phosphine, past sealed for 72 hours. Investigators were moving to find whether that played immoderate role.

Police told The Daily Morning that erstwhile the post-mortem results are in, they’d beryllium “taking ineligible enactment against the edifice management.”

McIntosh had acceptable retired to circuit Asia past Tuesday, starting successful Sri Lanka, according to her younger sister. A fewer days later, she and different guests astatine the hostel were rushed to the infirmary with nausea and vomiting. McIntosh was besides having occupation breathing and died a fewer hours later, her sister wrote connected a GoFundMe to rise wealth to alert the household to Sri Lanka and bring her assemblage home.

Family members indispensable place McIntosh’s body earlier the post-mortem introspection tin beryllium conducted and her remains released, Sri Lankan outlet Ada Derana reported.

Originally Published: February 5, 2025 astatine 6:12 PM EST