West Midlands Woman Joins With Lawyers To Appeal For Information

The widow of a former welder is appealing to his former colleagues for help following his death from mesothelioma, an asbestos-related cancer.

Eric Reed, from Telford died on 13 June this year, ten days before his 75th birthday. An inquest into Eric’s death confirmed the cause of death to be mesothelioma, a cancer affecting the lining of the lungs caused by exposure to asbestos often decades before symptoms begin to show.

Shortly before his death, father-of-two Eric instructed specialist industrial illness lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate how and where he was exposed to the fatal asbestos fibres and whether more could have been done by his employer to protect him.

Now Eric’s widow, Celia, 75, and her legal team at Irwin Mitchell are appealing to his former colleagues at GKN Sankey Ltd to come forward with any information they have regarding the presence of asbestos at the firm’s Castle Lane factory in Hadley.

While he was still alive, Eric, who was employed by the firm from 1969 to 1999, recalled to his legal team that the pipework at the firm’s Castle Lane factory was lagged in asbestos. During his employment, these pipes were systematically removed.

Eric also believed that he was exposed to asbestos through heat resistance clothing he wore due to his job. For the first twelve years of Eric’s employment with GKN Sankey Ltd, he worked as machine welder and he would weld truck wheels. This work required him to wear thick gloves to protect his hands from the heat; gloves Eric believed contained asbestos.

Kim Barrett, a solicitor and the asbestos-related disease specialist representing Celia, said:

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“Eric’s story is sadly one we hear time and time again, with a victim of mesothelioma going on to develop the cancer many years after their exposure to asbestos.

“A case of this nature is another tragic reminder of the huge impact that mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses have on a great number of people and we are working hard to ensure that Eric’s widow and family are able to get the answers they deserve regarding how he came to fall ill.

“As part of our work, we would be hugely grateful if anyone who worked with Eric at GKN Sankey Ltd or with knowledge of asbestos on the general site, can come forward with information regarding the working conditions he may have faced. Any details could prove vital in our efforts to ensure his family gain justice.” Kim Barrett - Solicitor

Eric, a grandfather-of-four, was first diagnosed with mesothelioma in April 2017. After suffering from breathlessness and chest pains, Eric underwent tests at Princess Royal Hospital in Telford before his mesothelioma was diagnosed.

Celia Reed, who was married to Eric for 48 years, said: “It was incredibly difficult to see how Eric’s health deteriorated so quickly in his final few months of life and I miss him so much.

“His death has left me with so many unanswered questions and I just want to know how he came to be exposed to asbestos.

“It would be hugely appreciated if anyone with information regarding the presence of asbestos at GKN Sankey Ltd would be able to come forward.”

Anyone with any information on the presence of asbestos at GKN Sankey Ltd during the time of Eric’s employment is asked to contact Kim Barrett at Irwin Mitchell’s Birmingham office on 0121 214 5211 or email kim.barrett@irwinmitchell.com.

If you or a loved one has been affected by mesothelioma our specialist asbestos lawyers will be able to help. Visit our Personal Injury page or contact us directly for more specialist advice.