Wife Of Weybridge Engineer Appeals To Husband's Former Workmates Following His Asbestos Cancer Death

The wife of a former mechanical engineer is appealing to his former workmates for help in establishing how her husband was exposed to the asbestos that claimed his life.

Joseph O’Keeffe from Sutton, Surrey, died from mesothelioma, a terminal cancer of the lining of the lung associated with exposure to asbestos, often decades previously.

Following Joseph’s death aged 76, his widow, Enid O’Keeffe, 85 instructed specialist asbestos-related disease lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate her husband’s illness and to establish whether it was linked to his work history.

Enid has now joined with her legal team in appealing to Joseph’s old workmates to come forward with details of the working conditions he would have faced.

They are hoping to hear from anyone who remembers Joseph from his time working as a mechanical engineer for British Aerospace in Weybridge, from 1966 to 1970.

Expert Opinion

“Enid is still coming to terms with Joseph’s death and since his loss, she has been considering how he could have been exposed to asbestos.

“Asbestos was used across many industries and through our work we’ve supported many families whose lives have been turned upside down as a result.

“Nothing can change what Enid is going through. However, she has many unanswered questions about how her husband encountered asbestos and we’re determined to help her establish the answers she deserves.

“If anyone who worked with Joseph could come forward with what they remember, it would mean a lot to Enid and could help prove vital in providing her with the closure she’s looking for.” Michael Osborne

Joseph married Enid on 28 May 1977.  Outside of work, the couple took several holidays each year and enjoyed gardening and working on their home. He also saw working on the couple’s saving and investments as a hobby.

Joseph was also ‘mad about golf’ and prior to his diagnosis, he would play three times a week at Woodcote Park Golf Club, which kept him in good shape. He also played on overseas holidays with club members.

Joseph had enjoyed good health for most of his life and was still playing golf regularly until he began to experience pain in his shoulder at the end of April 2021. He had no other symptoms at the time. Following tests, Joseph was diagnosed with mesothelioma in August 2021. He died in October 2021, with Enid by his side.

Enid said: “Joseph was a wonderful husband and even now, his loss still doesn’t feel real. I hear a noise and still expect to see him at the door. It’s hard to accept he’s no longer with us.

“We all miss Joseph so much and there’s still not a day that goes by that I don’t think of him. There were so many things we still wanted to do with our lives and future plans now lie in ruins because of this terrible disease.

“Following his diagnosis Joseph’s condition deteriorated so quickly and we didn’t have time to discuss his work history in any detail.

“If anyone out there who remembers Joseph could come forward with their recollections, it would be a huge help to me in discovering how he was exposed to asbestos.

“Joseph didn’t deserve to suffer in the way he did. We’ve been robbed of our time together and the truth will provide some comfort and enable him to finally rest in peace.”

Anyone with information that could help Enid is asked to contact Michael Osborne at Irwin Mitchell on Michael.Osborne@IrwinMitchell.com or telephone 0207 421 3945

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