KATHERINE BAINBRIDGE
AGRANDAD who served in the Navy during the Second World War died after inhaling deadly fibres that caused a terminal lung cancer.
Engineer Allan Sutherland took on a job as a boiler inspector after leaving the Navy, but it was only decades later when the dad-of-three became seriously ill that the dangers of asbestos were mentioned.
Following an X-ray and a drain to clear the fluid on his chest he was diagnosed with mesothelioma – a cancer that develops in the lining of the lungs and other organs that is caused by asbestos exposure.
Mr Sutherland, from Heaton Chapel, died aged 98 leaving behind his wife of 64 years Gladys, who has Alzheimer’s and has struggled without him their daughter Jeannie Crossfield described her as ‘absolutely lost on her own’.
She said: “He used to work as a boiler inspector for Insurance Engineers Ltd, which had an office in Spring Gardens in Manchester in the early 1950s.
“Dad was quite a small chap in his day, 5ft 6ins and as part of his job he had to crawl all over and actually inside the boilers to inspect them. I remember his boss was called Mr Blackier and he had a friend called Fred Spedding who had a caravan in Anglesey.”
It was in this job that Mr Sutherland met his wife. He retired in 1980 with Gladys, who was 13 years younger, retiring a year later. Jeannie said that at the time they were both fit and well and had a number of hobbies and interests.
The family have instructed law firm Slater and Gordon to investigate the case and are appealing for anyone who may have worked with Mr Sutherland at Insurance Engineers Ltd (which was taken over by Guardian Royal Exchange Ltd and then AXA) any time between the 1950s and 1980 to get in touch.
Emma Newman, an industrial disease specialist at the firm, said: “Allan’s children are desperate to find out more about what his dad did to cause his death.
“While asbestos was widely used until the 1980s, employers should have been aware of the risks and taken appropriate steps to protect their employees.
“Despite having to walk inside boilers as part of his job, Allan’s family don’t remember him having a mask or being warned of the dangers whatsoever.”
To contact Slater and Gordon call 383 3500 or visit slatergordon.co.uk/ contact-us/manchester.