Asbestos link to pensioner's death
A former furnace engineer died due to industrial disease, an inquest heard.
David Masters, of Glendale Drive, Wombourne, died in Compton Hospice on November 12, aged 79.
Dr Manel Mangalika, a consultant histopathologist at New CrossHospital in Wolverhampton, said Mr Masters had been exposed to asbestos during his working life and had been diagnosed with asbestosis in 1996.
"During the post mortem a tumour was found in his lungs," she said.
"On further examination I saw there was metastatic cancer which had spread into his liver and chest. He also had pneumonia. There were signs of asbestos exposure from the past."
Senior Coroner Robin Balmain told the inquest at Walsall manor Hospital Mr Masters had spent 18 years working as a furnace engineer, a job which involved stripping layers of asbestos sheet insulation from furnaces. He concluded Mr Masters had died due to industrial disease.