Worker exposed to asbestos (From This Is Wiltshire)

Worker exposed to asbestos

10:30pm Wednesday 26th January 2011 in News

FORMER RAF worker Carroll Jerome De Castellnou Trilles died on his 67th birthday as a combined result of asbestosis and heavy smoking, an inquest has heard.

Mr Trilles, of Queens Drive, worked for some of his life in the plating and foundry trade and as an air frame fitter at RAF Fairford between 1969 and 1973.

At the inquest into Mr Trilles’ death held in Trowbridge on Monday, the assistant deputy coroner for Wiltshire and Swindon Ian Singleton concluded the pensioner had died of lung cancer contributed to by the industrial disease of asbestosis.

Mr Trilles, who was born in Malmesbury, was diagnosed with non-operable cancer in July 2010 and he was recommended to take a course of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

He had attended his GP’s surgery in Park North on November 9, 2009, complaining of a cough which he had had for a month and had experienced coughing some blood but no chest pain.

The pensioner was a heavy smoker having smoked 50 cigarettes a day over the last 50 years.

In January 2010 his cough seemed better and there was no blood. He was advised to attend a weekly chest clinic but had not been keen on attending.

His cough returned in March when he again had similar symptoms involving coughing blood and a chest infection which was treated by antibiotics.

Evidence presented to the court revealed he had a wheezy chest in May and was seen by the doctor again on May 15.

He attended a chest clinic and further medical tests followed before Mr Trilles was diagnosed with cancer.

In a letter from his brother Jerome Trilles, he said Mr Trilles had worked as an air frame fitter at RAF Fairford between 1969 and 1973 and that after that date he had had a variety of jobs which had led to the exposure to asbestos.

Delivering his verdict of accidental death, Mr Singleton said: “It is clear on the balance of probability that death was due to industrial disease.

“Asbestos contributed to his death.”

He said Mr Trilles’ death was accidental caused by tobacco usage combined with asbestos exposure which contributed to lung cancer.