 Barry Welch as a child with his stepfather Roger Bugby |
A man aged 32 who said he had developed cancer after coming into contact with asbestos dust on his stepfather's clothes as a child has died. Barry Welch believed he contracted the cancer when Roger Bugby worked as a scaffolder at the Isle of Grain power station in Kent during the 1970s.
His stepfather brushed off his overalls at home in Chatham every evening.
Mr Welch had been pursuing a compensation claim with Mr Bugby's former scaffolding company.
Lining of lung
The father-of-three, believed to be the UK's youngest victim of the lung disease mesothelioma, said exposure to the asbestos dust made him susceptible to the disease in later life.
He was given six months to live last October.
Mesothelioma is a fatal form of cancer that attacks the lining of the lungs.
In the UK the only known cause is exposure to asbestos, which needs to be present only in small amounts.
Former colleagues
The period between exposure to asbestos and development of the condition can be from 10 to 50 years.
National law firm Irwin Mitchell has been representing Mr Welch.
Spokesman Martyn Hayward said on Monday he would be seeking compensation for his wife Claire, and his three daughters aged 11, nine and six.
"We are still putting together the claim against Mr Bugby's former scaffolding company."
He added: "We would like to hear from any of Mr Bugby's colleagues from the time who might have helpful information."
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