Asbestos Contributes to UK Man's Death

North-West Evening Mail

The health of a former Barrow shipyard manager suffered after exposure to asbestos at work.

George William Septimus Hall, of Empress Drive, Walney, died at Furness General Hospital in October.

On Monday an inquest into his death concluded he died from a heart attack, although fibres of asbestos were found in his lungs.

Pathologist at FGH, Dr Marek Witkowski, said that while he could not state the presence of asbestos fibres were the actual reason for the 78-year-old’s death, it was a contributory factor.

The inquest, held at Barrow Town Hall, heard it was during his working life that Mr Hall came into contact with both blue, white and brown varieties of asbestos.

He started an apprenticeship at Vickers at the age of 16 and worked as a mechanical fitter.

Mr Hall then completed National Service, spent a number of years with the merchant navy and was employed by various shipping companies.

He later went back to work at Vickers and after another 20 years completed his career as manager of the Devonshire Dock Hall Machine Shop.

His son, William Hall, said: “He will be sadly missed by his family and many friends. He was another of the many people exposed to asbestos and the consequences that brings.”

Recording his verdict, South Cumbria and Furness coroner, Ian Smith, said Mr Hall died of natural causes, but that his condition was made worse by exposure to asbestos, although on its own it did not kill him.

He said: “Mr Hall died from natural causes made worse by industrial disease.

“It was not on its own a cause of death but a contributory factor to the underlying heart disease. Both factors come into play. Each one makes the other worse and the outcome is often fatal.”