A FORMER shipyard worker was pursuing a claim for asbestos exposure shortly before his death, an inquest heard.

Patrick Joseph Loughran died at the age of 83 on October 4 last year a few months after receiving the diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma, the coroner's court in Cockermouth was told.

He died as a result of industrial disease due to asbestos exposure in Barrow Shipyard and the Ironworks, a coroner ruled.

Mr Loughran had launched a claim for asbestos exposure from his time working as a engineer in the shipyard, the inquest was tod.

For this he had to write an in-life statement to specify where he may have come into contact with asbestos, a leading cause for malignant mesothelioma.

In the statement he said: "During my time at the Ironworks I would sort the lagging on the pipework regularly.

"I had no face mask and had no warning about working with asbestos.

"After I did my national service I later joined Vickers Shipyard in 1967 where I worked as a fitter where I was exposed to asbestos in a variety of ways.

"There I worked with no face mask and was given no warning about working with asbestos.

"I was fit and healthy for most of my life until recently."

The Old Roose resident, well known for his time as the landlord of the White Horse in Dalton in the 1980's, had a biopsy in the early part of 2020 following issues with shortness of breath as well as memory problems.

Andrea Cole, one of Mr Loughran's four daughters, said he was born in Barrow, attended St Mary's Roman Catholic School and was a "man of faith and family".

"He was a music and Guinness lover," she said.

Coroner Ms Kally Cheema said: "Based on the medical diagnosis I would say this is a death by way of industrial disease.

"After being diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma following experiences of shortness of breath, he was referred to an oncology team who assessed him for treatment but decided not to go ahead with chemotherapy. "His condition rapidly declined from there."