By Phil Coleman

Last updated at 12:14, Friday, 16 December 2011

A Cumbrian man this week become the latest person in the county whose premature death has been put down his exposure to asbestos.

Lawyers said that the family of James MacKenzie, who was just 59 when he died from mesothelioma, will continue to fight for justice.

At an inquest in Carlisle, north and west Cumbria coroner David Roberts ruled that Mr MacKenzie, of Hadrian’s Avenue, Anthorn, near Wigton, died as a result of contracting an industrial disease after exposure to asbestos dust.

Mr MacKenzie’s health problems came after working at a Carlisle building firm between 1969 and 1972. As an apprentice, he was exposed to dust from sheets of asbestos as it was cut.

Mr MacKenzie became ill in August last year and two months later, after further medical investigation, doctors diagnosed malignant mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lung invariably caused by exposure to asbestos dust.

He died at the Cumberland Infirmary last December, the inquest heard.

Before his death, Mr MacKenzie recalled that during his apprenticeship asbestos was widely used for soffits on houses and in sheeting used for roofs and to line ceilings.

He said that he would often have to help unload the material and would end up covered in asbestos dust.

He leaves his devastated children Cheryl, and John, both in their 30s.

Commenting on his family’s loss, John said this week: “Dad worked incredibly hard all his life and it seems so unfair that work he did so long ago took him from us.

“We miss him terribly and to know that simple steps could have been taken to protect him is hard to bear.”

Roger Maddocks, an asbestos expert at Irwin Mitchell’s Newcastle office, who is acting on behalf of the family said: “As result of this cruel illness, James’s family have been robbed of their future together.

“James was only 59 when he was snatched from his family due to mesothelioma cancer.

“Today’s inquest verdict confirms that James died as a direct result of being exposed to asbestos. On behalf of his family we are continuing the legal battle for justice.”

First published at 11:26, Friday, 16 December 2011
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk