Retired HGV Driver Appeals To Former Colleagues For Help After Mesothelioma Diagnosis

A retired HGV driver who was employed in his family’s haulage business is appealing to those who worked alongside him to come forward with information he needs after he was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a terminal cancer caused by exposure to asbestos.

Roger Bracegirdle, 69, from Timperley, spent six years working as a HGV driver at George Bracegirdle & Sons Ltd, a company owned by his father and his uncle.

During his time at the Partington-based company, from 1967 until shortly before the company was dissolved in 1975, he spent time collecting and loading pallets of asbestos insulation boards and reels of asbestos sheeting from the Turner and Newall asbestos cement warehouse.

Roger has now instructed expert asbestos-related disease lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate his exposure to the substance.

As part of their investigations they are keen to trace the insurance company used by George Bracegirdle & Sons Ltd so they can access the funds Roger will need as his condition worsens, enabling to access the help and care he will need.

Members of Roger’s family have been searching for old documents from the business but they have been unable to find insurance details.

Roger is now appealing to his former colleagues to come forward and help provide information that could identify the insurer and enable him to access the funds he requires to provide financial security for his wife Susan.

Dominic Hemsi, a Partner and specialist industrial disease lawyer at Irwin Mitchell’s Manchester office, representing Roger, said:

Expert Opinion

“Asbestos dust and fibres can be extremely dangerous when inhaled or ingested and can cause a number of serious and sometimes fatal diseases, but all too often we see instances where employees were not given the correct information or protective equipment to prevent their exposure to the deadly material.

“Due to the length of time between exposure to asbestos and the development of symptoms of mesothelioma victims often find the companies they worked for no longer exist.

“In these cases victims have to rely on accessing compensation from insurance companies to help cover their care costs, as well as providing financial security for loved ones they will leave behind. This process can be extremely difficult when companies have been dissolved for long periods of time.

“Sadly, this is the case for Roger. Although he worked for a family business he has been unable to find any details about the insurer involved and we are now appealing to his former colleagues for help in tracing the insurer to ensure Roger can access justice and help provide for his future.” Dominic Hemsi - Partner

Roger, a father-of-two, who has been married to his wife Susan for 45 years, said: “I remember spending long periods of time visiting the Turner and Newall factory in Trafford Park to collect and load a variety of asbestos-based products.

“I can’t remember ever being given anything to protect me or being warned of the risks asbestos posed to my health. My mesothelioma diagnosis came as a terrible shock for all of us and I’m very concerned about what the future holds for me and my family as my condition gets worse.

“The company was dissolved back in 1975 and we don’t have records of the insurers of the business, but I’m hoping that some of the people who worked for the company will come forward with any information they have about which company held the insurance.”

Anyone with information about the insurers for George Bracegirdle & Sons Ltd should contact Dominic Hemsi at Irwin Mitchell on 0161 259 1516 or email Dominic.Hemsi2@IrwinMitchell.com.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, our expert mesothelioma solicitors could help you claim compensation. See our Asbestos-Related Disease Claims Guide for more information.