THE wife of a hotel doorman told an inquest she believed her husband died from working with asbestos.
Terrence Easter, of Hawthorns, in Hartley, died aged 64 on April 9.
His wife, Joyce Easter, told Westminster Coroner’s Court last Friday an asbestos roof had been removed while he worked at RT Tanners, in Crayford, from 1977 to 1993. He had not worn protective clothing.
Mr Easter suffered respiratory problems from June 2001 but histopathologist Dr Andrew Nicholson found no sign of asbestos in his body.
Coroner Dr Paul Knapman accepted he “may well have been exposed to asbestos”.
He said it would be “simpler” if there were signs of asbestosis and added: “It might even result in compensation but it wouldn’t be true.” The inquest was told Mr Easter died from heart failure caused by a lung disease, the cause of which was unknown.
Dr Knapman recorded a verdict of death by natural causes.
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