An inquest into the death of a grandmother who contracted rabies has been adjourned after a witness was left stranded abroad by the turmoil in the Gulf. A jury was selected on Monday morning to hear the inquest into the death of Yvonne Ford, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, who died after she was scratched by a puppy while visiting Morocco.
But assistant coroner Marilyn Whittle told the nine women and two men on the panel that the inquest was going to be delayed, and possibly halted, because of a witness being stranded. The hospital consultant is stuck in Bali but is hopeful he can get a flight back to the UK through a different route, the coroner said.
Ms Whittle said she is hopeful the witness will be available to give evidence at the inquest, which is taking place in Sheffield, on Wednesday.
The inquest will resume on Tuesday morning, when the coroner will decide whether it can go ahead or have to be re-listed, depending on the travel progress made by the witness.
Ms Whittle said: “Fingers crossed they are on that flight and can get back.”
Several airlines cancelled flights over the weekend and on Monday in light of Operation Epic Fury launched by the US and Israel on Iran, and the retaliatory strikes launched by the regime across the Middle East. A RAF base in Cyprus was also hit by a drone strike.
Yvonne Ford’s family have said she only became ill two weeks before she died on June 11 2025, aged 59.
They said she was scratched by the puppy in Morocco in February 2025.
She was diagnosed with rabies at Barnsley Hospital.
The inquest, at Sheffield’s Medico-Legal Centre, was due to last from Monday until Thursday.
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