Asbestos exposure to blame for joiner’s death
11:23am Sunday 11th June 2006 in News By Bolton Evening News Reporter
A JOINER died as a result of an industrial disease following exposure to asbestos, an inquest heard .
Edwin Whiteley, from Lee Bank, Westhoughton, died aged 59 on January 5, 2006, after months of suffering.
The family man had surgery to remove his infected lung in a bid to try to prolong his life, but he only gained a few months.
His doctor, Kevin Jones, a chest physician at Royal Bolton Hospital, gave evidence and commended his strength in his final months.
He said: "Mr Whiteley was a very brave man who wanted to try anything to prolong his life and went ahead with massive surgery to get the cancer out.
"I'm sad to say that it is such a common story with this disease but most patients with it die. I have great admiration for him."
Coroner Alan Walsh concluded that Mr Whiteley's died from an industrial disease.
He added: "He was a brave and courageous man and people should be pleased that there are people like him."
Speaking after the verdict, Mr Whitely's wife of 37 years, Sue, said: "He was a strong and fit man who had everything to live for, but he ended up like an old man.
"He had his own business and this cruel disease took him away."
