Family of Barnsley rabies victim say death was “traumatic”

Yvonne Ford, a 59-year-old grandmother from Barnsley, passed away last June after contracting rabies following a scratch from a stray puppy during a holiday in Morocco. The injury occurred in February when she accidentally startled the dog resting under her sun lounger on a beach. Despite the scratch being minor and showing no visible bleeding, it ultimately led to a fatal illness several months later.

Her family expressed their determination during an inquest in Sheffield to ensure that her death serves a meaningful purpose. Robyn Thomson, Yvonne’s daughter, emphasized the importance of raising public awareness about the urgent need to seek medical advice if bitten or scratched by an animal while traveling abroad. Thomson described her mother as a devoted, loving family woman, highlighting her roles as a wife, mother, and grandmother.

Yvonne began showing symptoms towards the end of May and was admitted to Barnsley Hospital in early June presenting with severe headaches, nausea, disorientation, and mobility problems. Although her condition worsened rapidly, the initial cause of her symptoms evaded diagnosis. It was only after a psychiatrist questioned her travel history, amid concerns about hallucinations and extreme anxiety, that rabies was suspected. Following the diagnosis, she was transferred to the infectious diseases unit at Sheffield’s Royal Hallamshire Hospital, where she died.

The family recounted the distressing experience of watching Yvonne’s swift decline, describing it as “extremely traumatic.” They noted that staff and family members had to wear protective equipment when caring for her, yet they remained close, holding her hand in her final moments. The inquest also revealed concerns about the quality of care Yvonne received at Barnsley Hospital, with her family feeling she was not treated with the dignity and respect she deserved. Infectious diseases expert Katharine Cartwright explained that Yvonne’s symptoms, including hydrophobia—a fear of water causing her to spit saliva frequently—are characteristic only of rabies. Unfortunately, once symptoms appear, as was the case here, the disease is invariably fatal, making early detection and treatment critical

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