A FORMER shipyard worker and world traveller from Barrow has died as a result of asbestos exposure during his working life, an inquest heard.

Jeffrey West, 77, died on July 3 in Furness General Hospital following a series of treatment and tests on his lungs which found malignant mesothelioma, which is caused by asbestos exposure.

In an in-life statement, the Darley Dale Road resident said: “I worked as an apprentice carpenter with Vickers between 1958 and 1963.

“This is the only time I was exposed to asbestos.

“In the joiners' shop I was not exposed to asbestos, but I worked alongside those who dealt with asbestos regularly.

“I also worked on a number of vessels which contained asbestos.”

His wife, Juliet West, said: “He was born in Barrow and was an engineer by trade.

“He loved walking and has been to all the mountains in the Lake District.

“He has travelled to many places across the world but he always came back to Barrow.”

This was corroborated by his GP at Risedale Surgery, Dr O’Donovan, who said he had been seen for malaria tablets and other travel associated vaccines in the past.

In a report from a consultant from Furness General Hospital, Mr West was taken to hospital from home by emergency services where he later died.

Previously, though, the report stated that he had undergone multiple tests which showed that he a large right-sided pleural effusion, which is a build-up of fluid in the pleural space, an area between the layers of tissue that line the lungs and the chest wall.

On March 8 he had a biopsy which showed he had malignant mesothelioma. Following this he was given a cycle of chemotherapy which alleviated his breathlessness symptoms but gave him some fatigue.

Coroner Ms Kally Cheema told Cockermouth Coroner’s Court in her conclusion that Mr West’s death was as a result of industrial disease. “He suffered malignant mesothelioma caused by asbestos exposure,” she said.