‘Our mum was scratched by a pet on vacation – 4 months later she was gone’

Yvonne Ford, 59, from Barnsley, died after being scratched by a dog in Morocco in February 2025, with her family now raising awareness about how to spot the signs of rabies

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The “rarity of the disease and unusual presentation” caused difficulties diagnosing rabies in a grandmother who was scratched by a puppy in Morocco. But this did not affect the fatal outcome, a jury has concluded.

Yvonne Ford, 59, from Barnsley, died four months after she sustained a minor scratch when she disturbed a dog beneath her sun lounger on a beach during a holiday in February 2025, but did not seek medical treatment. Mrs Ford attended Barnsley Hospital on June 2 2025 presenting with a range of symptoms including severe headaches, nausea, mobility problems and confusion.

She was admitted the following day as her condition worsened, but medics struggled to determine what was wrong with her. Rabies was only identified after a psychiatrist enquired about Mrs Ford’s travel history when he was consulted by medical colleagues who were worried that symptoms including hallucinations, confusion and heightened anxiety could have a psychiatric cause.

She was moved to Sheffield’s Royal Hallamshire Hospital where she passed away on June 11 surrounded by her family wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), the inquest has heard.

In a narrative conclusion on Thursday, a jury of eight men and two women determined: “The rarity of the disease and unusual presentation led to a difficulty in reaching a diagnosis but this did not affect the outcome.”

Infectious diseases specialist Katharine Cartwright, from Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, informed the jury during the three-day inquest in Sheffield that rabies is a virus which proves 100% fatal once symptoms start to manifest, though it can be prevented through vaccination.

Treatment following exposure can also prove successful, but this must occur before any symptoms emerge.

Speaking outside the court on Thursday, Mrs Ford’s son, Adam Ford, said: “In memory of our beloved mother, our family hope to raise awareness about rabies, not only here in the UK, but around the world.

“Globally, rabies is responsible for approximately 59,000 deaths every year.

“Despite being preventable, this deadly disease continues to claim thousands of lives.

“As a family, we feel a deep responsibility to raise awareness about rabies in the hope that greater understanding can help prevent further tragedies.”

Standing alongside his father, Ron Ford, and his sister, Robyn Thomson, Mr Ford said: “No family should have to witness the rapid deterioration of someone they love as we did, with unknown answers for our mum’s symptoms and growing fear of her deterioration.

“Through increased awareness and education, we hope to ensure that others recognise the risks and know the steps they must take to stay safe.”

Mr Ford encouraged anyone bitten by an animal in a nation where rabies remains widespread to seek urgent medical guidance, regardless of how minor the injury appears. He stated: “We truly believe that our mum’s death might have been preventable if there had been greater awareness and education surrounding rabies.”

He continued: “By sharing our mum’s story, we hope to help save lives and ensure that fewer families experience the heartbreak that ours has endured.

“Our mum was a loving mother, and a loving wife and a fantastic grandmother.

“She was the glue to our family, really, and she’s left a massive hole within our family and friends.”

His sister, Ms Thomson, shared with the jury on Wednesday how family members and staff were required to don gloves, masks, visors and aprons when in her mother’s presence, from her admission to Sheffield until her passing.

Ms Thomson recounted to the inquest how the family were informed “there is no possible recovery and that the only outcome would be fatal” once rabies was confirmed at the Royal Hallamshire.

She described to the jury how they had to witness her decline “in real time without explanation and with growing fear”.

Ms Thomson expressed the family’s numerous concerns about the basic care her mother received in Barnsley and added: “We don’t believe Yvonne was treated with the level of dignity and respect she deserved.”

Dr Cartwright explained that rabies symptoms typically manifest within four weeks of exposure – but it can take up to three months and, in some instances, it can take years.

She stated it appeared that Mrs Ford began to display symptoms at the very end of May and, consequently, there was nothing that could have been done at Barnsley Hospital that would have saved her.

Dr Cartwright informed the jury there have only been 26 cases of rabies in the UK since 1946.

Sheffield assistant coroner Marylin Whittle said she required more information before deciding whether a Prevention of Future Deaths Report was necessary in this case.

She said she acknowledged the family had concerns over Mrs Ford’s care in Barnsley but these were not relevant to the fatal outcome.

Ms Whittle observed that a GP said he would routinely only ask a patient about travel history going back 21 days, and she wanted more information on how this practice had arisen before deciding if a report was needed.

A spokesman for Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said: “Our thoughts are with Yvonne’s family following the sad loss of a loved family member in such unusual circumstances.

“We welcome ongoing discussions with Yvonne’s family about all aspects of her care.”