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Today is the British Lung Foundation Action Mesothelioma Day

Monday 27th February has been designated National Mesothelioma Day. On this day an Action Mesothelioma petition will be presented to 10 Downing Street by the British Lung Foundation.

Mesothelioma Cases in Wales

 

Three Generations From One Family Wiped Out by Mesothelioma from Asbestos

In Wales Mr Terry Tobin of Newport, Gwent, has good reason to think about the consqequences of mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure.

His wife, Dorothy Tobin died from mesothelioma on the 7th May 2005. Her only exposure to asbestos occurred when, as a child, she used to sit on her father’s lap in the 1950s when he came home at lunchtime from working at Newalls Insulation in Newport. She breathed in the fibres of asbestos attached to his clothes.

Her father Jim Pottinger died in 1969 from an asbestos related disease, believed to be mesothelioma. Her brother Jack Pottinger also worked at Newalls. He died from mesothelioma in 1999.

Her sister Beryl, who currently lives in Australia, also suffers from an asbestos related disease. Her only contact with asbestos was also from her father’s clothing.

Mick Antoniw, a partner with Thompsons Solicitors, who represents Mr Tobin said today:

“Mesothelioma affects around 1800 people in the UK each year. Many thousands are affected by other asbestos related diseases, including asbestosis and lung cancer. The number of fatalities is expected to rise each year for the next 10 years. This terrible disease has wiped out three generations of Terry Tobin’s family. We support the British Lung Foundation campaign to improve awareness and better support for families affected by mesothelioma”

Mer Terry Tobin said:

“Nothing can bring my wife back, I can only hope that this campaign will make people much more aware of mesothelioma and the suffering it causes. I hope that it will lead to further research which will improve early diagnosis and treatment.”

Asbestos Widow Receives £155,000 Compensation for Mesothelioma

Valerie Jefferson’s husband, Robert, was exposed to asbestos when he worked for an engineering company replacing boiler systems for the MoD. He was exposed to asbestos lagging in the early 1970s. In 2002 he was diagnosed with mesothelioma and died on the 14th June 2004. She has this week received compensation in the sum of £155,000.

Eamon McDonough, head of the Thompsons Wales asbestos team who represented Mrs Jefferson said:

“Mrs Jefferson is one of the growing number of widows in Wales who have lost their loved one due to mesothelioma. The compensation will never make up for this loss or the terrible suffering that her husband went through because of this disease.”

 

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