My husband swam in contaminated water during our luxury honeymoon… he died just 50 days after the wedding

When Elizabeth Diamond jetted off on a luxurious honeymoon in Jamaica with new husband Chris in 2017, she would have never imagined that it would lead to her becoming a widow.

But Chris tragically contracted a bacterial disease after swimming in contaminated water and died just 50 days after they tied the knot.

Now, Elizabeth, 51, from San Antonio, Texashas laid bare the traumatic ordeal exclusively with the Daily Mail while issuing a stark warning to other travelers.

Elizabeth and Chris first met through an online dating app, and according to her, it was love at first sight.

‘Chris and I fell in love instantly, we moved in together and were engaged in two weeks,’ she shared.

She described Chris as a ‘very honest and loyal man’ who also loved to have fun.

‘We were a couple of big kids,’ she gushed. ‘He was kind and loving but fiercely protective of his family.

‘He never missed a day of work and stood up for what he believed. He was so strong but so gentle.’

The two wed during an ‘intimate’ ceremony held in the front yard of their new home in November 2017 with 30 of their closest friends and family members present.

After the wedding, it was time for their honeymoon. While Elizabeth initially planned a trip to Tahiti, Chris had his heart set on Jamaica.

‘I did not want to go because I had been (before) and was not impressed,’ she explained. ‘But all I cared about was Chris being happy so I changed our plans.’

She recalled feeling ‘so excited’ about their future as they arrived in the country and checked into their ‘beautiful, five-star resort.’

They enjoyed a slew of activities during their time there, ranging from horseback riding to zip-lining through the jungle to romantic beach dinners.

On the last day they decided to head to a famous waterfall and swimming spot called the Blue Hole per the recommendation of the ‘excursion center inside their hotel.’

‘We arrived at the falls and it was exciting, we had no fear or concern,’ she recalled. ‘I remember one of the tour guides taking Chris high up to a closed-off area to jump in.

‘Chris was adventurous and very excited. He jumped and I was cheering him on.’

Known for its pristine blue waters, Elizabeth remembered feeling confused as the water looked ‘muddy’ and brown, but was told by their guide that it was from the ‘rain the day before.’

The couple flew back to the States the next day, but within two days of returning home, Chris started ‘experiencing stomach bug symptoms.’

Elizabeth said they brushed it off as ‘travel sickness’ but by the end of the week he had developed other flu-like symptoms.

He continued to worsen, and 16 days after their visit to the Blue Hole, Elizabeth recalled waking up and noticing that Chris’s skin and eyes had turned yellow.

‘I was frantic,’ she said, explaining that she quickly rushed him to the hospital.

‘When we arrived at the hospital things moved fast. The doctors had no clue what was causing his body to shut down, but his liver and kidneys had stopped,’ she shared.

‘He was critical and they were getting things set up to move him to a bigger hospital. I started researching diseases in Jamaica and saw that leptospirosis was common there.

‘I was furious, there had been at least 14 island wide news broadcasts during the year leading up to our visit – why weren’t we warned? Why weren’t there signs?’

According to the CDCleptospirosis is a bacterial disease spread in the urine of infected animals. It is often found in ‘contaminated water or soil.’

Leptospirosis has been common in Jamaica for years, and last November, the Jamaican government declared an outbreak of leptospirosis following a surge of cases.

Chris was transferred to a larger hospital, where doctors started treating him for leptospirosis with doxycycline, but sadly, it was too late.

Within 24 hours he was put on life support as he struggled to breathe on his own.

‘The next few weeks was spent by his bed watching him deteriorate,’ an emotional Elizabeth shared.

‘Chris was my safe place, my home.’

Just a mere 50 days after they said their ‘I dos,’ Chris tragically passed away.

The grief was immense, but Elizabeth said she has since dedicated her life to telling his story in the hopes that she could ‘prevent another senseless death.’

‘My warning to others is research before you go anywhere, but do not live in fear, live in education,’ she said.

Now, eight years on, Elizabeth has found love again, tying the knot with her new husband in June 2024.

‘I am in a better place in my life now,’ she shared. ‘I have started (writing) a book and I started a podcast for people who have suffered any type of trauma.

‘I will not say I am healed from this or that I ever will be, but what I do know is I will always tell Chris’s story no matter how much it hurts, because people matter,’ she concluded.