Peterborough Man In Battle For Answers

An 82-year-old man who worked at a copper rolling mill is seeking help from former colleagues after being diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease.

Bert Frederick Ingle, who believes he may have been exposed to deadly dust while working at Enfield Rolling Mills between 1953 and 1964, was diagnosed with Peritoneal Mesothelioma, a fatal condition, in June 2011. Doctors spotted the cancer while he was undergoing gallbladder surgery in November 2010.

Now Bert has called on law firm Irwin Mitchell’s specialist team to help him in his battle for answers and to secure justice on behalf of his family.

Whilst at the Mill, Bert was responsible for maintaining the moulds into which molten copper was poured to form ingots, securing them with asbestos ropes before they went into the furnace, and removing these ropes when they came out. He worked 12 hour shifts, five days a week.

He said: “I’d pull a length of asbestos rope off and cut it with a knife. It was quite dusty to touch and felt a bit like chalk. Once the mould had been in the furnace, I’d get the rope off using a chisel. You could see the dust in the air as I was digging it out and bits would fly up into my face as I worked. At no time were we given any masks to wear. I wasn’t told it was dangerous to work with asbestos and so I just went about my job in complete ignorance.”

As a fitter’s mate Bert would have been in close proximity to fitters working with asbestos when replacing the seals on the copper annealing furnaces.

Now living in Peterborough, he received the devastating news that he had been diagnosed with mesothelioma, a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos, in June 2011.

Formerly a fit and healthy man who went on weekly runs and walks with his wife Constance until the age of 80, he has found himself all but housebound. Now he suffers from nausea, vomiting and a loss of appetite.

Helen Ashton, an asbestos related disease expert from Irwin Mitchell who is representing Mr Ingle, said: “Bert is a committed and loving family man who worked hard throughout his life. We are keen to do whatever we can to ensure Bert receives justice, and adequate compensation for the care he is likely to need throughout this illness.

“We are appealing for former colleagues who worked alongside Mr Ingle or who have information about the use of asbestos in the Enfield Rolling Mills to come forward to assist with the legal case.”

Anyone who can help with any information is asked to contact Helen Ashton at Irwin Mitchell on 01142 744308 or email helen.ashton@irwinmitchell.com

If you or a loved one has been affected by an asbestos related illness, our solicitors can help you to claim compensation. See our Asbestos Claims page for more information.