Warehouse worker, 45, killed by asbestos
Warehouse worker, 45, killed by asbestos
A warehouse worker in hospital for surgery for a workplace lifting injury was told he was suffering from a deadly asbestos cancer. Peter Nicholas Wilkinson, 45, who died on 2 September, had been admitted to hospital last July after tearing a hernia at work. However, an inquest at Leamington Town Hall last week heard that tests revealed Mr. Wilkinson had contracted the asbestos cancer mesothelioma. Despite treatment including chemotherapy and radiotherapy, he died 14 months later. The inquest heard Mr Wilkinson had worked as a warehouse officer for 12 years at Argos Distribution Centre in Lutterworth. He had also owned his own car accessory business and worked at Halford's in Rugby as a sales assistant. In July 2005 he injured his stomach while loading a carton box at work. After being diagnosed with a hernia tear, he was admitted to the Hospital of St Cross for surgery. However, during the process he developed breathing problems and the procedure was aborted. Further tests revealed he was suffering from mesothelioma. Dr Richard Carr, a consultant pathologist, said in a statement to the inquest that the exposure was 'presumably of a low level.' Coroner Michael Coker recorded a verdict of death by industrial disease.
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