An inquiry into the passing of a grandmother who contracted rabies from a dog in Morocco and tragically lost her life has been postponed due to a witness stranded abroad by disruptions in the Gulf region.

A jury was empaneled on Monday morning to hear the investigation into the demise of Yvonne Ford, a resident of Barnsley, South Yorkshire, who passed away after being scratched by a puppy during her visit to Morocco in February last year.

However, Assistant Coroner Marilyn Whittle informed the panel of nine women and two men that the inquiry would be delayed, and possibly suspended, due to a witness stranded in Bali. This situation arose as flight cancellations occurred in Indonesia due to airspace closures in the Gulf region.

The coroner mentioned that the hospital consultant is hopeful of securing an alternative route to return to the UK.

The coroner will make a decision on Tuesday regarding whether the inquiry, originally set for Wednesday in Sheffield, can proceed or if it needs to be rescheduled based on the witness’s travel progress. Ms. Whittle expressed optimism, stating, “Fingers crossed they are on that flight and can get back.”

Nearly 100,000 British citizens have been left stranded in the Middle East following the recent events involving the US and Israel in Iran, including the fatal attack on Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday.

Yvonne was diagnosed with rabies at Barnsley Hospital upon returning from her trip, experiencing mild symptoms that progressively worsened, leading to her loss of motor functions, speech, and ability to swallow.

Her family announced her passing on June 11, 2025, at the age of 59, just two weeks after falling ill. In a statement shared on Facebook last year, the family expressed their grief and highlighted the need to raise awareness to prevent similar incidents from occurring.

The inquiry, scheduled at Sheffield’s Medico-Legal Centre, was initially planned to run from Monday to Thursday.