Tragic Death of British Grandmother from Rabies After Moroccan Holiday
A British grandmother has died from rabies four months after being scratched by a stray dog while on holiday in Morocco, with her family describing the ordeal as deeply traumatic.
Delayed Diagnosis of Rare Disease
Yvonne Ford, a 59-year-old from Barnsley in South Yorkshire, sustained a minor scratch from a dog she startled from her sun lounger on a Moroccan beach in February 2025. She did not seek medical treatment for the injury at the time.
It was only on June 2 that she presented to Barnsley Hospital with severe symptoms including headaches, nausea, mobility issues, and disorientation. She was admitted the following day as her condition worsened mysteriously, leaving medical professionals initially puzzled.
Psychiatrist's Intervention Leads to Diagnosis
Rabies was eventually diagnosed after a psychiatrist, called in by colleagues concerned that hallucinations, disorientation, and anxiety might indicate mental health issues, asked about her travel history. This crucial question revealed the potential connection to the earlier animal encounter.
Yvonne was then transferred to Sheffield's Royal Hallamshire Hospital, where she died on June 11. Her family was by her bedside wearing personal protective equipment as she passed away.
Inquest Findings and Medical Testimony
During a three-day inquest, a jury of eight men and two women delivered a narrative conclusion stating that "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 expert Dr. Katharine Cartwright from Sheffield Teaching Hospitals testified that rabies is 100% fatal once symptoms begin to show, though it can be prevented with timely vaccination. She explained that symptoms typically appear within four weeks of exposure but can take up to three months or even years in rare cases.
Dr. Cartwright noted that Yvonne began exhibiting symptoms at the very end of May, and therefore nothing could have been done at Barnsley Hospital to save her. She emphasized that there have been only 26 cases of rabies in the UK since 1946, highlighting the extreme rarity of the disease in Britain.
Family's Heartbreaking Testimony
Yvonne's daughter, Robyn Thomson, told the inquest that watching her mother deteriorate so rapidly was "extremely traumatic" and that the situation unfolded "in real time without explanation and with growing fear."
She described her mother as a "loving, active and devoted family woman" who was a "fantastic wife," a "wonderful mother" and an "exceptional grandmother" to her four grandchildren.
Robyn emphasized the importance of public awareness, stating: "We are determined that Yvonne's death will not be without meaning." She urged anyone scratched or bitten by an animal abroad to seek urgent medical advice to prevent "another family from enduring this trauma, loss and devastation."
Family Concerns About Hospital Care
The family has expressed concerns about the basic care Yvonne received in the hospital, though the inquest concluded that the delayed diagnosis did not affect the ultimately fatal outcome given the nature of the disease.
Robyn detailed how family members and medical staff had to wear gloves, masks, visors, and aprons when with Yvonne from her admission to Sheffield until her death. She recounted being told at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital that "there is no possible recovery and that the only outcome would be fatal" once rabies was confirmed.
This tragic case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of seeking immediate medical attention after any animal encounter while traveling abroad, particularly in countries where rabies remains a risk.
