Tragic Loss of British Woman Due to Rabies

The daughter of a British woman who succumbed to rabies after being scratched by a puppy while on vacation has shared details about her mother’s agonizing passing.

Yvonne Ford, a 59-year-old from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, was injured by a small stray puppy resting under her sunbed during a trip to Morocco with her husband in February. At the time, she didn’t think much of the scratch.

Months later, however, she began experiencing severe headaches and was taken to Barnsley Hospital. Soon, her condition deteriorated, leaving her unable to walk, talk, sleep, or swallow. She started hallucinating and developed an intense aversion to water.

Eventually, she was moved to Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield, where she was diagnosed with the rare and fatal virus. Tragically, she passed away on June 11.

Robyn Thomson, 32, Yvonne’s daughter, has recounted the horrific disease that robbed her of her mother. A neonatal nurse, Robyn described Yvonne as the most loving person imaginable—full of heart. “She was my best friend and an incredible grandparent,” Robyn recalled.

It’s particularly heartbreaking, as Robyn mentioned, because Yvonne adored animals. “For her to die from rabies is just particularly horrendous,” she said, adding how deeply she will be missed.

The family was blindsided by Yvonne’s death, especially given that it took so long for symptoms to manifest. The scratch occurred in February, but symptoms didn’t appear until months later.

Robyn recounted, “They were on a private beach, and a puppy scratched her leg. There was no blood or any sign of illness, so we really didn’t pay it any mind.” After returning from Morocco, Yvonne’s life seemed normal, and even went on a family trip to Florida shortly after.

But by June, everything changed. Yvonne developed a severe headache and sought medical attention. “It was a nightmare,” Robyn described. “Soon enough, she couldn’t even sleep or walk. She was hallucinating, terrified of water.” Eventually, her condition required her to be placed in an induced coma.

It wasn’t until after a week that doctors recognized it as rabies. Once symptoms appear, the prognosis is grim. “There’s only one outcome when rabies manifests—death. So we had to turn off her life support,” Robyn explained, her voice tinged with sorrow as she reflected on the devastating experience.

The family later learned that rabies symptoms can take months to surface, although in some cases, it can take up to two years. Now, Robyn is determined to raise awareness about rabies. She feels a strong sense of responsibility to prevent others from enduring the same heartbreak. To this end, she has initiated a charity mission in Cambodia.

She has started a fundraiser, appealing for public support. “It’s something I need to do. If I can save even one life, or prevent a family from experiencing our pain, then it will turn this awful situation into something positive,” she said, visibly resolved.

Robyn is focused on channeling her grief into action—aiming to vaccinate stray dogs, aid in monitoring efforts, and educate children in schools on the dangers of rabies.