The family of an 86 year-old, Derek Watkins, seeks answers after a prolonged exposure to asbestos through his work. The father of three, residing in South Wigston, was employed at Oakland Elevators in Oadby from 1963 to 1971. He then moved to work in Northampton for the Express Lift Company from 1974 to 1988, LeicestershireLive reports.
He informed his family that he was exposed to asbestos throughout his work, encountering it in various components such as fire insulation on the shaft, brakes, and electrical control panels. In their quest for answers regarding their father’s death, Paul Watkins and Carol Sneath, his children, have undertaken an investigation to determine if asbestos exposure played a role. Derek started experiencing breathlessness symptoms in 2021. Following medical examinations, he received a mesothelioma diagnosis in April 2022 and sadly passed away one year later.
His son Paul stated: “Dad’s diagnosis and death came as such a shock and more than a year on, it’s still so hard to believe he’s gone. No sooner had dad been given his terrible mesothelioma diagnosis than he began to develop dementia. This left dad in no state to pursue answers regarding his asbestos exposure and we all had too much else to think about, as both conditions made any treatment options really difficult.”
Derek had a deep passion for photography. He was known for being a devoted family man and took pleasure in going on holidays with his touring caravan.
Oakland Elevators is no longer operational.
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