Joiner who was exposed to asbestos did not die from industrial disease (From Gazette Series)

Joiner from Wotton who was exposed to asbestos did not die from industrial disease

2:57pm Thursday 2nd February 2012 in Gloucestershire news

ALTHOUGH a Wotton-under-Edge man had been exposed to asbestos in his earlier life, a coroner found that he did not die from an industrial disease.

William Stinchcombe, of Symm Lane, was 81 when he died at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital on September 21, 2011.

His GP Dr Jonathan Cabler told Assistant Deputy Gloucestershire Coroner Katy Skerrett that he had known him for many years.

"He was diagnosed with chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) and high blood pressure in 1999 after he had difficulty breathing," he went on.

"He was referred to the respiratory clinic and a chest X-ray showed there was no lung scarring or disease. He was prescribed inhalers and steroids."

Mr Stinchcombe was diagnosed with heart failure in 2007 and was on oxygen at home from 2008.

In November 2010, he was found to have severe narrowing of the carotid arteries to the brain but was not well enough to undergo surgery.

"In April 2011 he suffered a worsening of his COPD and his heart rate had slowed. He was placed on the waiting list for a pacemaker to be fitted," Dr Cabler added.

Mr Stinchcombe was also under the care of consultant Dr David Meacham-Jones, who said he had been a joiner by trade and said he had worked with asbestos.

"He was diagnosed in 2007 with asbestos-related lung disease," he said.

Consultant pathologist Dr Keith McCarthy carried out a post mortem and found heart disease, kidney disease and changes in the lungs related to asbestos.

But he said the primary cause of death was pneumonia caused by an exacerbation of his COPD, and heart disease, and that his death was unrelated to asbestos.

Summing up, Mrs Skerrett said Mr Stinchcombe had been admitted to hospital on September 4 last year with respiratory failure and had been treated for over two weeks.

"But on September 21, he suddenly became short of breath and despite treatment, he deteriorated and died," she said.

"It is clear that COPD and heart disease are the reasons he died when he did."

She recorded a verdict of natural causes.