Fit and Active Mechanic died of Mesothelioma

Posted on July 14, 2010 with 1 Comment

A FORMER mechanic, who remembered blowing asbestos fibres from car parts, died after a cancer linked to the deadly Asbestos dust spread through his body.

An inquest heard that evidence of mesothelioma was found in most of Stephen Ward’s vital organs, including a tumour that was wrapped around his heart. The 49-year-old died in April, 10 months after being diagnosed.

Deputy coroner Louise Pinder read out part of a statement that father-of-two Mr Ward had prepared before his death. In it he said he believed he became exposed to asbestos while working in a small garage between 1982 and 1985.

Miss Pinder said: “One bit that struck me was how Mr Ward recalls blowing asbestos dust off the parts he was handling and how the dust came from brake pads and shoes he was filing.”

Mr Ward, of Hill View, Repton, was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma in June last year and had one of his lungs removed.

Giving evidence, Mr Ward’s wife, Sally Ward, said he husband first started to show signs of breathlessness in autumn 2007. She said: “I remember we would take the dog for a walk and Steve would always be the one marching at the front with us all following him.

 ”Then quite quickly, he could not get up the stairs.

 ”He started to become breathless and developed chest infections which he went to his GP about.”

Gerry Van Schalkwyk, the consultant pathologist who carried out the postmortem examination, told Derby and South Derbyshire Coroner’s Court that he found mesothelioma in Mrs Ward’s liver, lungs, stomach and small bowel.

He said: “A tumour was wrapped around his heart and there was a large amount of fluid around the lung. “The heart sits in a sac that protects it and this tumour had infiltrated the sac making it rigid so the heart could not move freely.  ”The disease had just spread everywhere.”

Dr Van Schalkwyk gave the medical cause of death as disseminated (or widespread) malignant mesothelioma.

In returning a verdict that Mr Ward had died as a result of industrial disease, Miss Pinder said: “It is clear from the evidence from Mr Ward’s statement that he was exposed to a substantial amount of asbestos while working as a mechanic.”

Speaking after the inquest, Mrs Ward said the verdict gave her and his family “some degree of closure.” She said: “Steve and I were married for 28 years and when we were first married he played football three times a week, as well as golf and even the raft race that is held in the village. ”He was always at the front of everything and to see him go downhill was so debilitating for him.

“The family had been in limbo until the inquest, so it is good it is now over and things seem to be sorted.”

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