A SHIPYARD worker who was exposed to asbestos for three decades died of industrial disease, an inquest ruled.

Albert Brennan worked in the yard as well as abroad in Australia and South Africa before returning to Barrow.

He died at Furness General Hospital aged 79 on February 24, a hearing at Cockermouth Corner's Court was told.

The inquest heard the grandad and father of four had been diagnosed with mesothelioma, a form of lung cancer linked with asbestos exposure, in 2014.

Having left school at 16, he started working in the yard in 1955 before departing to Australia in 1971. He came back to Barrow before leaving to work in South Africa.

In 1996 Mr Brennan returned to Barrow and worked as a care assistant in Aldingham, living on Walney.

He had previously recovered from bowel cancer.

Mr Brennan was married to wife Patrician and had four children, Christine, James, Shaun and Theresa.

A statement from respiratory specialist Dr Al-Jubury said Mr Brennan had been exposed to asbestos for 30 years, was an ex-smoker and had developed the lung condition COPD.

The hearing was told Mr Brennan had palliative chemotherapy for mesothelioma in 2014 and 2018.

His GP, Dr Emma Griffith, of Bridgegate Medical Centre, said Mr Brennan had suffered with shortness of breath.

Coroner Kirsty Gomersall concluded Mr Brennan's death came as a result of industrial disease.

In summing up, she said: "Mr Brennan died on February 24 at Furness General Hospital.

"He was exposed to asbestos during the course of his working life."