Asbestos victim appeals for former colleagues to come forward

The son of a Hartlepool man, who died from an asbestos related lung cancer, is calling for his former colleagues from ‘Buxted Chickens’, to come forward and help with an investigation into reports of asbestos exposure at the firm.

Mr George Horsley, 60, formerly of Hartlepool passed away on 31 July 2007, less than two years after developing pleural mesothelioma, the fatal asbestos-related cancer.

His son Jonathan Horsley has now instructed industrial disease experts at law firm Irwin Mitchell to pursue a civil claim against his former employers, Buxted Chicken of Belle Vue Way Estate where he worked in their chicken sheds in the 1960’s and 1970’s.

George Horsley, a fisherman by trade, worked at the chicken factory as a chicken catcher.  It is believed that he inhaled potentially fatal asbestos dust and fibres in the air by chasing and collecting chickens around the large sheds that penned them, bumping into the asbestos panels fixed to the sides of the shed and disturbing the already cracked and deteriorated sheeting.

He was never provided with a facemask or warned that inhaling the asbestos dust and fibres emitted could lead to the contraction of such a lethal disease.    

Jonathan Horsley says: “I remember my father as being a strong and healthy man who I had many years left to enjoy with him on his fishing boat and walks in the country together, who sadly died before his grandson was born.”

Ben Mitchell, an industrial illness expert at the Leeds office of law firm Irwin Mitchell is representing Mr Horsley and is urging anyone who may be able to assist to come forward.

Ben Mitchell said: “Mesothelioma is a devastating form of incurable cancer that is extremely quick and aggressive from the time the symptoms first come on, to the date of death.  

“Unfortunately the fatal disease can take decades to develop after first being exposed to asbestos dust. This can cause significant problems because twenty to thirty years later, the company in question may no longer be trading, the premises may have closed down, or the work force may have moved on.  Therefore trying to find details of the working conditions can be extremely difficult.

“We urge anyone who may have information about the company or working conditions at Buxted Chickens in the 60’s and 70’s to come forward to help with our investigations.”

Anyone who can help should call Ben Mitchell at Irwin Mitchell on 0113 394 6751 or email Ben.Mitchell@irwinmitchell.com

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure, our expert asbestos lung cancer lawyers could help you claim compensation. See our Asbestos-Related Disease Claims Guide for more information.