A LANGLEY Green man who died of lung cancer after working as a plumber for 25 years was forced to put his wife in a home, an inquest heard.
A coroner's court at Haywards Heath Town Hall heard that Ron Rose, 73, died of mesothelioma brought on by exposure to asbestos and had to stop caring for his sick wife because he was too ill.
Mr Rose, formerly of Fitchet Close, worked for G W Hitc
hcock Ltd where he was employed as a plumber from 1948 to 1971.
Mr Rose was diagnosed with the deadly lung disease in 2007 after going to his doctor complaining of back pain.
The court heard that during a second stint at G W Hitchcock Mr Rose took on more general construction duties and was exposed to the deadly dust along with other workers.
Coroner's officer Joss Atkins said: "He became exposed to asbestos during one particular project working at a petrol station. Workers were sawing sheets of material, thought to contain asbestos, in a closed area.
"The atmosphere was thick with the dust particles and he and his colleagues were never given protective clothing or washing facilities."
Mr Rose retired in 1999, after working as a delivery driver for an electrical contractor, to become the full-time carer of his wife, Doreen, who suffers with dementia.
As his own illness worsened Mr Rose was tragically forced to put his beloved Doreen in a home because he couldn't care for her on his own.
Coroner Penelope Schofield said: "I am satisfied that the correct verdict is one of industrial disease and I record that today."
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