A mother-of-three could have been exposed to asbestos after a fire ripped through Telford’s military depot and sent debris across the town, an inquest heard today.As a seven-year-old, Ellen Paddock had played in the ashes as they blew across Leegomery following the blaze 25 years ago, the hearing heard. Her father, Alan Bush, told how she had caught the ashes in her mouth, believing it was snow.
The jury also heard that Miss Paddock, who died last year aged 31, could also have been exposed to asbestos through her father’s work
Miss Paddock, of Blakemore, Brookside, Telford, died on July 22 after contracting lung disease.
Before her death, Miss Paddock began legal proceedings to sue the MoD and the company her father worked for, for an undisclosed six figure sum.
Mr John Ellery, coroner for Mid and North Shropshire, said Miss Paddock’s father had come into contact with asbestos in the 1970s when he worked at Rubery Owen, and could have brought dust home on his clothes.
The inquest also heard that Miss Paddock may have been exposed to asbestos in the fallout after the fire at the MoD Central Ordnance Depot in Donnington on June 24, 1983. Asbestos in the roof of the building was blown across parts of Telford, including Leegomery where Miss Paddock lived. She had played in the ashes.
Giving evidence, Mr Bush said: “Ellen thought it was snow. She said she opened her mouth to catch some of it.”
Mr Bush said he gave up his job after learning it was bringing him into contact with asbestos.
Dr Vivek Mudaliar, a consultant pathologist, said the cause of death was broncho pneumonia and mesothelioma.
Dr Mudaliar said “given the degree of exposure of asbestos, I would think that on the balance of probability, exposure would have been from the fire.”
He added that he could not be sure the ashes contained asbestos.
The hearing continues.
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