Mesothelioma compensation for grieving family
A family still mourning the loss of their beloved father to
deadly asbestos-related illness mesothelioma has been awarded
compensation by his former employers.
Denis Aspin was 64-years-old when his 30-year career as an
assembler at the Desford factory finally caught up with him.
Desford, part of a worldwide company that employs more than 10,000
people, employed Mr Aspin between 1979 and 2008 but failed to fully
explain the dangers of working with asbestos during that time,
meaning he did not take the necessary precautions to preserve his
health during that time.
In September 2008, Mr Aspin approached his local GP complaining
of breathlessness and was diagnosed with mesothelioma. But it was
too late for Mr Aspin and his family as the pensioner died within
two months of being diagnosed.
This January, Mr Aspin's wife, Diane, was awarded an undisclosed
settlement by Desford in response to the company's inadvertent role
in his death.
Speaking this month, Mrs Aspin said:
"It is impossible to describe how my husband's development of
mesothelioma and death has affected our family.
"We are all completely devastated. I don't think we will ever
recover emotionally from the fact he worked hard all his life,
retired and then almost immediately was diagnosed and died within a
couple of months."
Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos and develops
decades after initial contact. Compensation is often hard to
access, but each year thousands of workers families are awarded
settlements in response to poor safety regulations and anyone
affected by the severe dangers of mesothelioma should contact an
industrial disease specialist immediately.
"Denis decided to pursue compensation as he was worried about
how we would cope financially. We have one daughter at university
and another who is severely autistic and relies on 24-hour care,"
added Mrs Aspin.
"The compensation will allow us to ensure their needs are
provided for but no money will ever make up for my husband's
death."