Settlement for Former Apprentice Who Died of Mesothelioma

Damages have been secured for a man who died of mesothelioma decades after being exposed to asbestos in the dockyard where he worked.

He started working as an apprentice shipwright when he was 15. He was exposed to asbestos in the insulation of submarines that were being refitted. However, he was never warned about the risks of working with asbestos or given any protective equipment.

In 2022, he began experiencing pain in his side. Having had a heart bypass two decades earlier, he initially thought his symptoms were related to his heart. He died of mesothelioma the following year, at the age of 81.

Mesothelioma is a cancer that commonly affects the lining of the lungs and is almost always caused by asbestos exposure. It has a long incubation period, with symptoms typically appearing decades after the exposure that caused it.

A claim was commenced against the Ministry of Defence (MoD), which was responsible for the dockyard. The MoD admitted liability and a settlement was reached.