A housewife died from industrial disease after coming into contact with deadly asbestos while washing her husband’s work overalls.
The family of Helene Todd, who lived in Durranhill in Carlisle, are now suing the Ministry of Defence after an inquest formally confirmed asbestos to be the cause of her death.
Mrs Todd, who was 66 when she died at the Eden Valley Hospice on August 21 last year, had already begun legal proceedings after being diagnosed with asbestos-related cancer and told it would be terminal.
Now her husband, former serviceman John Todd, 67, has vowed to continue her fight for justice, supported by their children and grandchildren.
Mr Todd, who is being represented by specialist law firm Irwin Mitchell, told the News & Star that he was in regular contact with asbestos while serving with the British Army in Germany during the late sixties and seventies.
And he strongly believes it was this asbestos – brought home on his work clothes for washing – all those years ago that caused Helene to contract metastatic mesothelioma.
“I was a tank mechanic and was working with it all the time,” he said. “It was in the brakes and clutches, engine covers and sheeting round the engines. Back then we had no idea it was dangerous.
“To be honest I’m surprised I haven’t got it. Helene must just have been unlucky.
“Most days I’d get back and have to leave my overalls at the door, then she’d shake them to make sure there was nothing in the pockets and put them in the wash. I remember her saying the dust would irritate her nose, making her sneeze.”
After leaving Germany and serving for a few years with the Territorial Army in Glasgow, Mr Todd left the army after about 22 years service.
Despite originating in the south east of England, fate brought them to Carlisle when they spotted an advert for houses and instantly knew it was were they should settle.
They lived in the city happily for many years and it wasn’t until 2009 that Helene started to have problems with her health.
“She just didn’t feel right so she went to the doctor and they kept doing more and more blood tests. They knew something was wrong,” said Mr Todd, who has also worked as a driver, courier and had his own ice cream van.
She was referred to the hospital and further tests eventually revealed it was bad news. She was told the cancer in her lungs was terminal, and she would have an estimated two to five years to live.
Mr Todd found himself looking after his wife with help from Macmillan nurses.
However, she started to go downhill last June and died in August.
Mr Todd said he misses her every single day. “Helene was magic,” he said.
“She was my life, we did everything together. We were married for 44 years, but it should have been 60.”
At an inquest in Carlisle a few weeks ago, north Cumbria coroner David Roberts ruled that Helene died as a result of industrial disease.
Supported by his three adult children and four grandchildren, Mr Todd said he is determined to get justice in memory of his wife.
He said: “The whole family was absolutely devastated when Helene received her diagnosis. It is heartbreaking to think that an everyday task such as washing clothes is what risked her health.
“It angers me to think that my former employers, the MOD, not only put my life at risk but also my family.”
Mr Todd’s solicitor Roger Maddocks added: “Although cases like Mrs Todd’s are still uncommon, we do see a number of cases where the victims themselves have not been exposed to asbestos dust through their own work.
“They may not have been heavily exposed to asbestos dust, or even been exposed on an everyday basis, but even small levels of exposure can lead many years later to development of mesothelioma with devastating consequences.”
source: newsandstar.co.uk
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