A man from Paignton died as a result of asbestos exposure during his working life, an inquest has heard.
80-year-old Alan Albert Richens passed away at Torquay’s Rowcroft Hospice in December.
In a statement written before his death, the inquest heard that the married father had been exposed to asbestos through his work at Swindon Railway Works. His father had also been employed by the same firm.
“Asbestos was extensively used at that stage,” he said. “Dust was constantly in the atmosphere. I just wore ordinary clothing.”
Mr Richens’ job saw him distributing mail in the locomotive works before moving on to fit panelling in places where his colleagues had been spraying asbestos.
His apprenticeship ran from 1950 to 1955 and he then undertook national service with the Royal Air Force.
Mr Richens was diagnosed with mesothelioma in June 2013 and the inquest heard that, before his death, the retired cabinet maker was ‘in and out’ of the hospice, suffering with chest pains and breathlessness.
Coroner Ian Arrow said: “In his working life he was exposed to heavy asbestos dust so I am recording it as an industrial disease death.”