Family to sue after tragedy

The family of a 35-year-old Shropshire man who died after exposure to asbestos is suing the company where he first started work at the age of 16.Matthew Witterick, of Minsterley, near Shrewsbury, died on October 18 last year.

When he left school, Mr Witterick started work as a chrome polisher for Birmingham-based firm A G Warren and Sons Ltd, which has since gone into liquidation, where it is claimed he was exposed to asbestos dust.

An inquest at Shrewsbury Magistrates Court yesterday heard he worked at the company for nine months between 1988 and 1989.

He started feeling ill in 2005 but it was not until July 2007 that he was diagnosed with mesothelioma.

The coroner for Mid and North Shropshire Mr John Ellery said there were three areas at the firm where Mr Witterick was exposed to asbestos. He recorded a verdict of death due to an industrial disease.

Terry Loughrey, of Thompsons solicitors, which is acting for Mr Witterick's family, said: "Matthew was a very young man when he joined A G Warren. His job involved pushing and pulling trolleys of components in and out of a room that was used to dry off the components from the chroming process.

"The room was lined with asbestos sheets to keep it warm and the trolleys damaged the sheeting and released asbestos fibres. There's also some asbestos on some pipe work.

"There was no breathing protection or precautions taken. As a result, we believe the dust he inhaled from the drying room became deposited in his lungs.

"It can lay there for 20-40 years and then suddenly mesothelioma can develop.

"A claim for damages has been made against the employers and the matter is being dealt with by the insurance company and solicitors. The next stage will be to get medical evidence and hope we can persuade the insurance com- pany and solicitors to settle or we will proceed to court proceedings.

"It is rather sad that his first job after leaving school was with this company."

Berrymans Lace Mawer, the solicitors working for A G Warren and Sons Ltd, were unavailable for comment today.