Mesothelioma Victim Appeals to Others after his Death

November 3, 2006 - A Carlisle, England man who operated his own joinery business, and died from mesothelioma earlier this year, left a written statement that he hopes will prompt the government and private businesses to take notice of the growing numbers of people dying from the disease. 

William Smith, age 69, an avid sportsman who swam daily and played golf often, succumbed to the disease in April.  Mesothelioma is now recognized as England’s number one workplace killer and, according to British doctors, an emerging epidemic that has many alarmed.  More than 150 individuals from Smith’s region of Cumbria have died of the disease in the past 6 years.

At a recent coroner’s inquest addressing Smith’s death, the coroner read statements from the former joiner in regards to his disease, according to the News and Star.  Smith said that “he came into regular contact with asbestos dust – even though he sometimes chose to wear a mask. None of his employers ever passed on advice or guidance regarding the dangers of asbestos.”

“I was never aware I was at risk. I wore a mask to prevent breathing in thick dust rather than because of any health problem,” Smith wrote.

He also claimed there were times that the dust was so thick that people could not see through it, which the coroner deemed “quite shocking.”

Worldwide health experts predict that at least 250,000 workers in Western Europe alone will have died from mesothelioma by 2029.  Mesothelioma usually takes 20 to 50 years to manifest itself, and when it is diagnosed, it’s usually in its advanced stages, making a cure impossible and treatment difficult.