Lawyers And Loved Ones Call For Former Workmates To Come Forward

The partner of a former Birmingham factory worker is appealing for help to establish how the father-of-two contracted the asbestos-related cancer which claimed his life.

Chris Follows, from Edgbaston, died in April 2021, just seven days after he was told that he had developed mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lung commonly associated with exposure to asbestos, often decades previously.

Following the 62-year-old’s death, his partner, Jane Corry, 61, with whom he had been in a relationship for more than  40 years and with whom he had had two sons Ashley (35) and Wesley (29), instructed specialist asbestos-related disease lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate how he developed the illness.

Jane has now joined her legal team in appealing for anyone who worked with Chris to come forward with information on how he may have been exposed to asbestos during his working life.

They are particularly keen to hear from anyone who worked alongside Chris at Metalrax Shelving in Bordesley Green, between 1990 and 2000.

Expert Opinion

“Chris’s death is sadly yet another case which puts a spotlight on the devastating impact of asbestos exposure, with the true consequences only becoming clear years after contact has taken place. What makes Chris’s death even more concerning is the relatively young age he died from mesothelioma.

“Following initial investigations, we’re now appealing for information about the working conditions Chris faced during his work for Metalrax.

“We’d be grateful to anyone who may be able to help us, as the details we gather will go some way towards ensuring that his family can gain the answers they deserve regarding Chris’s death.” Hayley Hill - Senior Associate Solicitor

Chris’s role at Metalrax Shelving meant he had to dip shelving racks in paint and hang them on a conveyer belt in an extremely dusty environment, with dust and particles flying all around him.  He often came home from work coughing.

Chris developed symptoms including breathlessness and was admitted to hospital with suspected pneumonia in February 2021. Following a biopsy in April 2021, it was revealed Chris had stage four mesothelioma. He died aged 62, on 14 April 2021, just seven days after receiving the news.

Prior to his illness, Chris was an active man and in their 40 years together, Chris and Jane worked together, enjoyed going on walks, shopping and visiting their families regularly. Both Chris and Jane spent a lot of their time together, there was not one without the other. Chris loved cooking and cooked for Jane every day. Outside of work Chris loved to play music, in particular he enjoyed playing the piano. 

Jane said: “Chris’ diagnosis and death were so sudden that even a year on, the boys and I are still struggling to come to terms with it. We hadn’t even got our heads round his diagnosis when Chris died. Because of this we feel we didn’t really get to say goodbye to him properly.

“This disease has taken Chris far too soon and robbed us and the family of our future together. He was still young and we simply never saw this coming. The plans we had are now in ruins and it’s still so hard to navigate life without him here.

“Chris was a wonderful man and such a big part of our lives that his loss has created a void that can never be filled.

“Chris never got the chance to discover the facts behind his illness, so if anyone can help us it would go some way towards answering all our questions, explain to his sons why they had to lose their father in this way and finally allow Chris to rest in peace.”

Anyone with information which may assist this case is asked to contact Hayley Hill at Irwin Mitchell’s Birmingham office on 0121 214 5273 or email Hayley.hill@irwinmitchell.com

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