Second tourist dies at Sri Lanka hostel after Brit tourist falls fatally ill from 'toxic chemicals'

A second tourist has died at the same Sri Lankan hostel where a British woman fell fatally ill - with cops probing whether the tragedy was a result of toxic chemicals used to fumigate bed bugs. German national Nadine Raguse, 26, has been named as the second person to die after staying at the Miracle Colombo City Hostel in Colombo. She was staying with 24-year-old Ebony McIntosh, from Derby, who was rushed to hospital after suffering nausea, severe vomitting and breathing difficulties.

The young Brit was said to be on her "dream holiday", but tragically died in hospital after a room in the hostel was fumigated to get rid of the pests. Sri Lanka Police spokesman Buddhika Manatunga confirmed the fumigation took place just days before both women died. An investigation has now been launched to find out whether or not their deaths were a direct result of poisoning by noxious pesticides. According to reports in Sri Lanka, a room adjacent room to Ebony's was fumigated on January 30 - then sealed for 72 hours. The hostel has now been closed as investigators work to establish the circumstances behind the fatalities.

A post-mortem examination on Ebony is also due to take place after her family arrives in Sri Lanka on February 10. The British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: "We are supporting the family of a British woman who died in Sri Lanka, and are in contact with the local authorities.". Tributes have since flooded in for the travel influencer, who was described as the "kindest, funniest, and most determined" person. Ebony's younger sister India wrote: "To my Ebony, my beautiful sister, thank you, thank you for being my older sister, one better than I could've ever asked for.

"I am truly heartbroken, I can't believe I am writing this, it feels like some nightmare I haven't woken up from yet. We will get justice for you, you had so much life left to live.". Her best pal said: "I am absolutely broken. Ebony was one of the kindest, funniest, and most determined people I’ve ever known. She had the biggest dreams, and she deserved to live them all.”. Ebony's distressed family members have said they are in the midst of a "nightmare" as they fundraise to have their "beautiful baby girl" returned to the UK. They claimed the 24-year-old was one of several people sent to hospital last week, with others left vomiting and struggling to breathe.

Taking to GoFundMe, India McIntosh said Ebony "took very ill" in the hostel, alongside several others, who were treated in hospital for "vomiting" and "nausea". Ebony, they wrote, suffered difficulty breathing, and passed away less than a week after she arrived in Sri Lanka on February 1. India wrote: "We cannot even begin to imagine how scared she must have felt at the time and it hurts us so badly to think of the pain she was in." The organiser added that Ebony passed away "with someone from the hostel beside her" who stayed with her "during her last moments".