The widow of a man who died of mesothelioma in his late sixties, after being exposed to asbestos decades ago, has been awarded £122,000 in compensation.
Harry Worth was diagnosed with the deadly asbestos-related cancer in February 2004 and died just a few months later.
Mr Worth and his family were surprised by the diagnosis. As a teenager he was employed in the shipyards on Tyneside as an apprentice electrician, working alongside contractors who were installing asbestos insulation. He then went to work in the aerospace industry where he had no contact with asbestos whatsoever.
Mr Worth’s exposure to asbestos dust occurred as a result of his employer's negligence so he decided to bring a claim for compensation against them.
Mesothelioma is a deadly cancer of the lining of the lungs caused by asbestos exposure. It is thought to affect over 2,000 people each year. Mr Worth's case is not unique in that many sufferers develop the disease many years after their original exposure to asbestos, which can make it difficult to make a claim for compensation against the former employer.
