OXFORD'S doctors fought in vain to save a man who had caught rabies after being bitten by a cat. 

Omar Zouhri, 58, died in the John Radcliffe Hospital on November 4 - two months after returning from Morocco where the incident took place. 

The inquest into Mr Zouhri's death was opened at Oxford Coroners Court this afternoon and a full inquest will be held on March 14. 

The court heard how Mr Zouhri, of Prebendal Avenue, Aylesbury, travelled to Morocco, the country of his birth, in August. 

He was bitten by the cat on or around August 30 but it was not until he had returned to the UK that he began to develop symptoms. 

On October 30 he presented himself to the Stoke Mandeville Hospital complaining of pain in his right hand and underwent tests for the disease. 

He was transferred to the JR's infectious diseases department on November 1 but his condition deteriorated rapidly and he died at 7.45am on Sunday, November 4. 

Coroner Darren Salter confirmed that the cause of death was 'rabies following a cat bite'.

Deaths from rabies are extremely rare in the UK and only five Brits contracted the disease between 2000 and 2017 - all while travelling abroad. 

The incubation period for rabies is between three and 12 weeks and, once it has developed, it is almost always fatal. 

Mr Zouhri was described in the court as a full time carer for his wife, Chadia. 

According to the Daily Mirror, he died in the same hospital where his four year old daughter had also died 10 years ago. 

His family told the paper: "He was a family man, he did everything for his kids. He was always fit and healthy, and such a friendly, caring, loveable man."