An inquiry into the demise of a grandmother who contracted rabies from a dog in Morocco and tragically passed away has been postponed due to a witness being stranded overseas amid the Gulf’s unrest.
A panel of nine women and two men was chosen on Monday morning to participate in the investigation of Yvonne Ford’s death from Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Ford succumbed to rabies after being scratched by a puppy during her visit to Morocco in February of the previous year.
Assistant coroner Marilyn Whittle informed the panel that the inquiry would be delayed, and potentially canceled, as a witness was stuck in Bali due to flight disruptions caused by airspace closures in the Gulf region.
The stranded hospital consultant is optimistic about finding an alternative route back to the UK, as mentioned by the coroner.
On the following day, the coroner will determine whether the scheduled inquiry in Sheffield can proceed on Wednesday or if it will need to be rescheduled based on the witness’s travel status. Ms. Whittle expressed hope that the witness would be able to return on the flight.
Yvonne was diagnosed with rabies at Barnsley Hospital upon returning from her trip, exhibiting mild symptoms that progressively deteriorated, leading to her loss of motor functions and ability to swallow and speak.
Her family, mourning her loss at the age of 59 on June 11, 2025, stated their grief in a Facebook statement last year, emphasizing the need to raise awareness about the risks associated with rabies.
The Sheffield Medico-Legal Centre was set to host the inquiry from Monday to Thursday.
Following the US and Israel’s strike on Iran resulting in the demise of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, nearly 100,000 British citizens have found themselves stranded in the Middle East.
With retaliatory actions ongoing in the region, British nationals remain trapped, prompting the Foreign Office to initiate an extensive operation to provide assistance to those affected.
