A man from Suffolk who previously worked as a truck driver died because he was exposed to asbestos during his working life, an inquest has heard.
Roland Ray, 76, died in June this year after being admitted to hospital four days earlier, and moved into the intensive care unit on the day before he died.
The inquest heard how Mr Ray had previously worked as a lorry driver for a builders’ merchant for nearly 40 years, delivering and collecting goods.
Suffolk Coroner Dr Peter Dean said reports indicated that Mr Ray had frequently been exposed toasbestos dust whilst handling sheets of the material at work. He had occasionally collected materials containing asbestos from manufacturers, delivering them directly to customers.
A post-mortem examination concluded that Mr Ray’s death had been due to respiratory failure, pneumonia and mesothelioma.
Dr Dean said: “It is clear from the documentation that he had had contact with asbestos during the course of his employment and that he died as a result of mesothelioma.”
The Coroner recorded a verdict that the death of Mr Ray was due to an industrial disease.