Joiner died never knowing how he came to develop fatal cancer

The heartbroken widow of a joiner who died after being exposed to deadly asbestos dust is appealing for her husband’s former colleagues to come forward and help her find out how he came into contact with it.

David Givens died on 16 August 2015, aged just 63.

Now, in the wake of his death, his wife, Pamela, 58, and their children Kelly, Christopher, Mark and David have instructed expert asbestos-related disease lawyers Irwin Mitchell to investigate how he came to be diagnosed with mesothelioma, a terminal asbestos-related cancer.

David, from Sunderland, was a joiner by trade and worked as a shop fitter from 1980 until his death.

It is believed that he came into contact with asbestos dust during his time at John Cummings and Son of East Hendon Road, Sunderland, where his uncle Ronnie Armbruster, who died of asbestos-related cancer in the 1990s, was foreman.

Pamela, said: “At Cummings, David said no facemasks were provided and there was no training about how to handle or deal with asbestos. No one told him of the risks.

“He spent a lot of time renovating old buildings, on one occasion knocking down an old police jail where he thought there had been asbestos.

“Nothing is going to bring David back to us, but asbestos has claimed two members of our family now and we just want answers that only people who worked for John Cummings & Son, whether not they worked with David or Ronnie, can provide.”

Expert Opinion

“Mesothelioma is a terrible terminal disease which ravages the sufferer in a short space of time.

“David had just three years left with his family after his diagnosis and they are still coming to terms with their loss. What they want now is to find out how David came into contact with asbestos. We already know his uncle Ronnie, with whom he worked at John Cummings and Son of Sunderland also succumbed to asbestos-related cancer so our enquiries are focused on that company.

“Any information could prove vital in helping David’s family to get the answers they deserve.”
Roger Maddocks - Partner

Anyone who thinks they may be able to help with information should contact Emma Tordoff at Irwin Mitchell on 0191 279 0104 or by emailing emma.tordoff@irwinmitchell.com.

Read more about our work on asbestos-related disease claims here.