Tourists killed as hostel in Sri Lanka was fumigated for bedbugs

According to a report by the British PA Media news agency, two tourists died in a Sri Lankan hotel due to suspected pesticide poisoning, stemming from fumigation carried out at the hotel to control bed bugs.

PA reported that Ebony McIntosh, a 24-year-old digital marketing and social media manager from Derby, England, and Nadine Raguse, a 26-year-old from Germany, were both staying at the Miracle Colombo City Hotel in the Sri Lankan capital. Sri Lankan police confirmed the information on Thursday.

Sri Lankan police spokesman Buddhika Manatunga told PA that both women felt unwell after a room in the hotel was fumigated to control bed bugs. McIntosh was hospitalized on Saturday. Police are investigating whether the two women were poisoned by pesticides.

Manatunga added that a post-mortem examination will be conducted after McIntosh's family arrives in Sri Lanka on Monday to determine the cause of her death. He also stated that the hotel, which is currently closed, will remain closed until then.

A spokesperson for the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) told PA: "We are providing support to the family of a British woman who has died in Sri Lanka and are in contact with local authorities." CNN has contacted the FCDO for further comment.

McIntosh's family launched a fundraising campaign on a GoFundMe page to raise money for their trip to Sri Lanka. "It is with deep sorrow that we announce the unexpected passing of our beautiful baby daughter and big sister Ebony on Saturday 1st February 2025, thousands of miles away from home," McIntosh's family wrote on the page.

They continued, "Words can't describe how heartbroken we are, it's been like a nightmare since hearing the news Sunday morning, we've been praying and praying it isn't true. This couldn't have happened to our lovely Ebs."

The family wrote that McIntosh flew to Sri Lanka from London on Tuesday, January 28, "chasing her dreams to travel around South Asia" and was "full of excitement" for the trip, which she had been planning for months. They added that McIntosh and "several others" were rushed to the hospital on Saturday suffering from vomiting and nausea, and McIntosh was also having difficulty breathing. The family said she died a few hours after arriving at the hospital.