A man who worked as a coal miner for more than four decades died as a result of the dust he inhaled during his work.

David Paul McLean, 88, passed away at his home in North Row, Kells, Whitehaven, on January 29.

Assistant coroner Robert Chapman concluded that his death, caused by pulmonary fibrosis, was a result of 42 years working in the Haig Pit in Whitehaven.

Mr McLean left school at the age of 14 to work as a face worker – a miner who drilled into the seam – in the pit. He remained there until it closed in 1986.

A post mortem by Dr Fergus Young, consultant pathologist at the Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle, confirmed Mr McLean’s lungs were congested with focal emphysema, fibrosis and there were thickened blood vessels consistent with pulmonary hypertension.

There was no asbestos in his lungs, but there was pigment from coal dust.

His report stated the cause of death was pulmonary fibrosis.

Speaking at the inquest at the Coroner’s Court in Cockermouth, Mr Chapman said: “It seems to me to be entirely clear that if he worked as a face worker in the pit for 42 years, the pulmonary fibrosis developed as a result of his work as a coal miner.”

Mr McLean had been seen several times by Dr Joanne Hull-Davies, of Lowther Medical Centre, at home during January but he refused any further investigation into his illness.

The coroner concluded the cause of death was industrial disease.