Expert Industrial Disease Lawyers Helping Family To Find Answers
The grieving family of a former carpenter who died from an asbestos-related cancer is appealing to his former colleagues to come forward with information about the working conditions to help with an investigation into his exposure to the deadly dust.Horace Twomlow, from Tamworth in Staffordshire died aged 83 on 1 May 2012 following a four month long battle with mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lungs which is caused by exposure to hazardous asbestos dust decades ago.
His daughter Lynda Dlugoszewska instructed specialist industrial disease lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate the conditions at Reliant Motors Limited based in Tamworth, Staffordshire where Horace worked between 1966 –1994 and also for the National Coal Board at Birch Coppice Colliery in Dordon where he was employed from mid-1950s to 1966.
Expert lawyers at the firm are now appealing for any of Horace’s former colleagues to come forward with information about the presence of asbestos, working conditions at the two companies and whether any health and safety procedures were in place to protect the workers.
Lynda is appealing to her dad’s ex colleagues to help in her battle for justice as she believes he was exposed to the deadly dust during his working life.
As part of Horace’s job at Reliant Motors Limited he worked in a small workshop called the services department where he would repair damaged cars. The workshop was heated by an old boiler connected to pipes which were lagged with asbestos. He was also responsible for sweeping up dust and pieces of lagging at the end of the day and he would often go home with his clothes covered in dust.
Kim Barrett, a specialist industrial disease lawyer at Irwin Mitchell’s Birmingham office representing Lynda, said: “We have already heard from two of Horace’s former colleagues who have confirmed that asbestos was present at both the colliery and also at the Reliant manufacturing plant. We are hoping that others will come forward to help us investigate Horace’s exposure to asbestos when working at both of these sites.
“We would urge anyone working at either Birch Coppice Colliery between the early 1950s and 1966/67 and/or at the Reliant motor manufacturing plant in Tamworth between the mid 1960s to 1993/94; to contact me as they may be able to assist our investigations further on behalf of the family.”
Father of two Horace started to suffer with symptoms around Christmas 2011 when his weight plummeted and was experiencing pain in his shoulder and then chest. After the pain increased he visited Good Hope Hospital where he had scans and a lung biopsy and he was then diagnosed with mesothelioma. He struggled for the next few months with the pain and was admitted to Robert Peel Hospital where he stayed for two weeks before he passed away on 1 May 2012.
Lynda said: “It was very difficult for us as a family to see my dad suffer with this awful disease. He was always fit and active throughout his life, but the affect of the illness had a huge impact on him as he was in a lot of pain. My parents used to go dancing and he liked to play bowls. He was a keen gardener and would spend hours in the garden and loved spending time with his family and four grandchildren. It is painfully tragic that my dad worked hard all his life to provide for his family and to think that he died because he wasn’t properly protected at work.
“I would like to urge anyone who knew my dad or worked with him over the years at these two companies to come forward with any information you have which could be vital in helping us secure justice for him.”
Anyone with any information about the working conditions at Reliant Motors Limited or National Coal Board is asked to contact Kim Barrett at Irwin Mitchell on 0121 214 5211 or email kim.barrett@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.