What are the most common farming accidents?
Over 300,000 people in Britain work in the agricultural sector today. Many farmers and farm workers were raised in farming families or communities and are proud of the rewarding work...
Family of former British Airways aircraft engineer appeals for help after asbestos-related death
The widow and family of Leslie George from Okehampton, Devon, who died from a devastating asbestos-related disease, aged 88 years, are appealing for help from his former colleagues at British Airways.
The devoted family man died from mesothelioma, an aggressive, incurable cancer of the lining of the lungs, caused by exposure to deadly asbestos dust particles.
Leslie was employed as an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer at Heathrow Airport with the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) which became British Airways. He began his career there in 1956 where he would service the aircraft, carry out inspections and make any repairs or modifications the aircraft required. Leslie left the company in 1982 and later, retired to Devon with his wife.
When he first became ill, he began suffering from a cough which deteriorated over time. Initially, it was thought he had a chest infection; but following an x-ray and further investigations at hospital, it was confirmed that he was suffering from the asbestos-related disease, mesothelioma.
Elizabeth George, Leslie’s widow, is looking into his past work at British Airways to learn more about how he came to be exposed to asbestos. With help from specialist asbestos disease solicitors, Novum Law, she is appealing for help from anyone who worked at the company in the 1950s to 1980s to come forward with any information they have about Leslie’s working conditions and how he came to be exposed to the deadly dust particles.
Andrew Walker, a solicitor from Novum Law who is assisting Elizabeth and her family with their search for justice, said: “Leslie’s family are understandably very shocked and upset that they have lost him to an asbestos-related disease.
“Mesothelioma is a dreadful illness which causes significant suffering for its victims and their families. Thousands of people die each year as a result of just going about their everyday lives and working to make a living.
“We are appealing to anyone who worked at British Airways at Heathrow Airport between the 1950s and 1980s who can provide any details about the presence of asbestos there and any exposure that Leslie may have had there.
