Family’s devastation over grandmother’s rabies death after holiday | UK | News

Relatives of a South Yorkshire grandmother who died after contracting rabies while on holiday say they have been forced to endure “trauma, loss and devastation”.

Barnsley grandmother Yvonne Ford contracted rabies after being scratched by a stray dog ​​in Morocco in February 2025, a jury inquest at Sheffield Forensic Science Center was told. The animal attacked after startling her as she got up from the sun lounger.

He died at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield on Wednesday 11 June 2025.

On Wednesday, March 4, the jury of nine women and three men heard, along with deputy coroner Marilyn Whittle, how witnessing Yvonne’s deterioration “in real time, without explanation and with increasing fear” was “extremely traumatic” for her relatives. In her statement to the court, her daughter Robyn Thomson described Yvonne as an “exceptional” wife, mother and grandmother.

She stated: “Before February, Yvonnes was a loving, active and devoted family woman. She was a wonderful wife to her husband, Ron, and they shared a close, supportive, loving relationship. (Yvonne) was a constant companion… (Yvonne) was a wonderful mother and was always there, offering guidance and reassurance.”

“She was an extraordinary grandmother to her four grandchildren; they were at the center of her life.”

In her follow-up testimony, Robyn detailed the progression of her mother’s symptoms. After numerous doctor appointments for “bug bites”, Yvonne told her family she felt like she was “trapped in a cycle of panic that she couldn’t figure out”.

Yvonne was admitted to Barnsley Hospital on June 2, 2025, with what her family described as “severe agitation”, as well as headaches and chest tightness.

Robyn’s account revealed that as of June 4, Yvonne began experiencing hallucinations, informing her family about “flies in her room” and coming “out of her mouth.” Despite attempts to hydrate him throughout his stay, he consistently refused.

By June 6, he had begun “spitting saliva every 10 seconds” and had not slept for nearly a week.

On Tuesday, March 3, the inquest heard how Yvonne was referred to the mental health liaison unit at Barnsley Hospital the same day. Psychiatrist Dr Alex Burns assessed Yvonne and expressed concerns about an infectious disease causing hallucinations, restlessness and anxiety.

Dr Burns said: “I asked about travel, I also asked about insect bites. It was very unclear what the diagnosis was. I wanted to think a little more outside the box and consider rare conditions, including those associated with travel.”

Yvonne’s husband informed Dr Burns that they had visited Morocco in February. He explained to Dr Burns that Yvonne had been bitten by a dog on the beach after he accidentally frightened her as she got up from a sun lounger.

Yvonne was then transferred to the care of infectious disease specialists at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals. However, Robyn stated that from then on the family “didn’t know” the extent of Yvonne’s cognitive awareness.

Speaking in court through tears, Robyn said: “On June 11 we received confirmation that recovery was not possible and the outcome would be fatal. We said our goodbyes and held her hand with her last breaths. Watching her deteriorate was extremely traumatic.”

Concluding her statement, Robyn expressed the family’s concerns that “general dignity measures were not maintained by staff” at Barnsley Hospital or that Yvonne was “received the level of dignity and respect she deserved”.

The family also expressed their wish that “no other family should endure the trauma, loss and devastation” they experienced. Speaking on behalf of the family, Robyn told the court: “As a family, we are determined not to be frivolous. We hope to raise awareness by speaking publicly.”