27 Apr - Work appeal after asbestos death in Greater Manchester

Tuesday, 27 Apr 2010

The daughter of a woman who died of an asbestos-related disease in Greater Manchester is appealing for any of her former workmates to come forward.

Jill Blake's mother, Edna White, was aged 68 when she lost a battle against lung cancer in May 2009.

Mrs White worked at Lorival Plastics in Bolton in the late 1960s.

Mrs Blake wants more information about her time at the firm as she believes this was where her mother came into contact with the asbestos fibres.

Gasping for breath

Lorival Plastics closed a number of years ago, but Mrs Blake wants their insurers, Aviva, to admit the firm's liability.

She said: "We don't want money, we just want the reasons for my mother's death to be recognised.

"My mother has three beautiful grandchildren who she will not see get married and grow-up.

"She was so active before she was diagnosed with mesothelioma.

"A consultant who treated her said she would probably have had another 20 years if she had not had this disease - and that hurts."

Mrs White, who was a full-time carer for her husband, went from having an active and outgoing lifestyle, to gasping for breath and not being able to feed or dress herself as the disease took over.

She was diagnosed in September 2008 and died the following May.

Her daughter, who was a child when her mother worked at Lorival Plastics, wants to know exactly which job she did there.

It is believed asbestos was used in the factory, which specialised in injection-moulded plastic products, to manufacture toilet cisterns and Mrs Blake believes she came into contact with it there.

An Aviva insurance spokesman confirmed the firm was representing Lorival Plastics.

 

Source: BBC News Apr 2010