An 82-year-old former railway worker who was exposed to asbestos at work has secured compensation from his former employer after being diagnosed with mesothelioma.

The man had worked on and off for his employer for 30 years, starting when he was just 15. His work involved refurbishing railway carriages that had been sprayed with asbestos paint, laying flooring in carriages on top of surfaces sprayed with asbestos, and stripping asbestos from the walls of carriages.

The dangers posed by asbestos were known by the time he started his job, but employees were not warned of the risks and were not provided with any protective equipment.

In December 2022 he began to experience tiredness, shortness of breath and chest pains. He was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a cancer that commonly affects the lining of the lungs and is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos.

After he sought legal advice, an out-of-court settlement was reached whereby he will receive a six-figure sum in damages. The settlement will help to meet his ongoing care needs and provide access to life-extending therapies.