Second tourist dies days after British influencer in Sri Lankan hostel as police look into 'possibility of toxic chemicals'

Police are investigating the possibility of toxic chemicals after the death of a second tourist staying at a hostel in Sri Lanka.

British influencer Ebony McIntosh was taken to hospital in the capital Colombo on Saturday (1 February) as police say she was reportedly suffering with vomiting, nausea and breathing difficulties. The 24-year-old, from Derby, had a sudden death.

And German national Nadine Raguse has been named as the second person to day after staying at the Miracle Colombo City hostel. The 26-year-old also reportedly fell critically ill.

McIntosh’s cause of death has not yet been identified as a post-mortem examination will take place after her family arrive in the South Asian country on Monday (10 February).

Police said a room in the hostel had been fumigated beforehand (Google Maps)

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."

The digital marketing and social media manager was just days into the first week of her ‘dream holiday’ as tributes describe her as the ‘kindest, funniest, and most determined person’.

Sri Lanka Police spokesperson Buddhika Manatunga said that a room in the hostel had been fumigated to treat bed bugs before McIntosh and Raguse fell ill.

And officers are now investigating the possibility that the women’s deaths were a result of poisoning by noxious pesticides.

The Miracle Colombo City hostel has now been temporarily closed until the post-mortem takes place.

McIntosh’s younger sister, India, wrote in a tribute: “To my Ebony, my beautiful sister, thank you, thank you for being my older sister, one better than I could've ever asked for.

Ebony McIntosh died suddenly aged 24 (GoFundMe)

"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 family have since started a GoFundMe to help raise funds to be able to get over to Sri Lanka in order to ‘bring her back home’.

India wrote they are ‘absolutely heartbroken’ as they described it as ‘like a nightmare’.

Before her trip was ‘cruelly cut short’, she explained: “She was full of excitement for her adventures ahead, in typical Ebony style she had spent months researching and planning and drawing up schedules for the coming months.”

It’s added that she ‘sadly and tragically’ passed away ‘within a few hours’ of arriving at the hospital.

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