Firefighters more likely to die from cancer

Firefighters are more likely to die from cancer, heart attacks and strokes than the general population, researchers have found.

The group had a mortality rate for all cancers 1.6 times higher than other people, a study carried out in Scotland by the University of Central Lancashire revealed.

Riccardo la Torre, Fire Brigades Union national officer, said the findings “should horrify the fire services and the Government”.

“This is about firefighters dying who did not need to,” he said.

“Lives are being lost among our friends and colleagues and it must stop.”