Plea to aid legal case after asbestos death
WIDOW IS URGING EX-WORKMATES TO COME FORWARD TO HELP IN HER CLAIM
A WIDOW who lost her husband to an asbestos-related cancer believes he could have inhaled the deadly substance while working on Manchester swimming baths.
Former pipefitter John Hulston died in February 2016 from fibrosis of the lung and asbestosis - a longterm lung disease caused by prolonged exposure to asbestos. In a bid to find out where John was exposed to the substance his wife Carol has turned detective to track down his former workmates.
She is bringing a legal claim as she believes his death was as a result of exposure to asbestos during his employment between the 1960s to 1980s. An inquest into the grandfather’s death, held in June 2016, found that he died from an industrial disease on the background of a smoking history.
Carol, 74, believes John could have been exposed to asbestos while working as a pipefitter, firstly for Bell Brothers (Manchester) Ltd between 1967 and 1971. During this time there he worked on a number of swimming baths in the city.
He later worked installing sprinkler systems for Matthew Hall Plc between 1971 and 1973. Carol also believes John, who was 71 when he died in February 2016, could have inhaled asbestos dust when he worked for Northern Insulation Contractors LTD as an asbestos stripper between 1984 and 1990.
John, from Glossop, had surgery to remove part of his lung after developing lung cancer in 2015.
“He was told that the operation had been a success and he was clear of cancer. But he subsequently died from fibrosis of the lung and asbestosis. When breathed in, asbestos fibres can cause scarring to the lungs which prevent them from working properly.
Unlike some other asbestosrelated diseases, such as mesothelioma, doctors believe exposure to the substance over a long period of time is normally needed to cause asbestosis.
Helen Ashton, specialist asbestos disease lawyer from law firm Leigh Day, said: “Given John’s diagnosis of asbestosis, it appears he was exposed to inhaling asbestos fibres over a prolonged period of time.
“We are appealing on behalf of his widow for anyone who worked with John at Bell Brothers Ltd, Matthew Hall Plc or Northern Insulation Contractors Ltd to contact us as they may have information that could help in Carol’s legal claim.”
Anyone with information should contact Helen at hashton@leighday.co.uk or call 0161 393 3544.