Information Sought On Working Conditions At Carrier Engineering And Rosser & Russell

The devastated family of a former Leeds pipe fitter/welder who died from asbestos cancer is appealing to his former workmates for help in discovering how he was exposed to the substance that claimed his life.

Keith Sellars, died aged 66 just weeks after he was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lung associated with exposure to asbestos, often decades previously.

Following Keith’s death, his widow Karen Sellars, 65, of Halton in Leeds instructed asbestos-related disease experts at Irwin Mitchell to investigate her husband’s illness and if it could be connected to his work history.

Karen and her daughters Keeley and Kirsty, have now joined with the legal team to appeal to Keith’s former workmates to come forward with details of the conditions he would have worked under.

Karen and the legal team are looking to trace anyone who remembers working with Keith at Carrier Engineering Limited, also known as Haden Carrier, from 1971-1976 and during his time with Rosser & Russell from 1981 onwards.

Hannah Robinson, a specialist asbestos-related disease lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing Karen and the family, said: “Keith’s death at such a relatively young age for mesothelioma has left his wife and daughters in shock and struggling to come to terms with the fact he is no longer here.

“As a pipe fitter/welder, Keith worked on a number of projects. As part of our investigations into his death we’re now asking for those with information about the condition Keith faced to come forward “Karen is committed to discovering the truth about her husband’s asbestos exposure and we’re determined to support her on this search for answers in Keith’s memory.

“If anyone with information could come forward, it would mean a lot to Karen and her daughters Keeley and Kirsty. Such detail could be vital in providing the family with the answers they deserve.”

On leaving school Keith joined Carrier Engineering, York Road Leeds starting as an apprentice pipe fitter/welder. Karen understands that Keith stripped lagging, which may have contained asbestos, from pipes and boilers during his time there.

From 1981 onwards, Keith was employed with Rosser & Russell, Leeds, Karen recalled Keith saying that he worked at various locations for the firm, including power stations, banks in Leeds as well as schools and hospitals. Keith had previously enjoyed playing squash and spending time with his family, going for days out.

Keith started to feel unwell in around July/August 2021 and was initially advised that he had terminal lung cancer in early April 2022.   Keith then underwent further tests, including a biopsy, after which he was diagnosed with mesothelioma on 20 April 2022 and died on 24 April 2022. Keith leaves behind wife Karen and daughters Keeley, 47 and Kirsty, 44.

Karen said: “A few months on, and I don’t think the girls or any of the family has fully come to terms yet with the fact that Keith has gone.

“Keith was an amazing husband, father and a good friend to so many people. There have been so many nice tributes paid to him and there’s not a day goes by that we don’t miss his smile. Our home feels that much emptier without him and our hopes and dreams for the future died with him.

“Everything moved so fast, that none of us really had time to talk or make plans and in less than a month, from his diagnosis to death, Keith had died.

“He wanted to pursue the facts about his asbestos exposure and while we started to discuss it, there wasn’t time in the end for him to discover the truth for himself. The girls and I are going to see this through for Keith, so if any of his old colleagues could come forward with information, it would be a huge help to us.

“Nothing can now bring Keith back, but we can discover the truth for him. Keith still had everything to look forward to, with his own business, family and plans for the future that have been taken for him. The least we can do now is get the answers he deserved.”

Anyone with information that could help Karen is asked to contact Hannah Robinson at Irwin Mitchell on 0113 394 6842 email hannah.robinson@irwinmitchell.com

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