Loved Ones And Lawyers Appeal For Colleagues from Drakelow Power Station To Come Forward Following Man’s Mesothelioma Death

The daughters of a former power station labourer are appealing to their dad’s former workmates for help following his death from asbestos-related cancer.

Eric Salt, from Burton-On-Trent, died following his diagnosis with mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lung associated with exposure to asbestos, often decades previously.

Eric was diagnosed with mesothelioma during the pandemic and tragically died shortly afterwards. As a result, his daughters Annette and Kay, who live in New Zealand were unable to travel to be with him.

They have now instructed expert asbestos-related disease lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate whether his illness was linked to his work. However, he died aged 78 before he could see his case concluded.

Annette and Kay are now appealing to any of Eric’s former workmates to come forward.

They are keen to trace anyone who worked with Eric during his time as a labourer in the late 1960s for the Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB) at the former Drakelow Power Station, near Burton-upon-Trent.

Expert Opinion

“Eric’s family are understandably still coming to terms with his death and the great loss they have suffered as a result.

“What happened to Eric is yet another reminder of the terrible legacy asbestos has created. While nothing can bring Eric back or change what the family is going through, we’re determined to at least help give them some closure by establishing the answers Eric had wanted and the family deserve. If anyone who remembers working with Eric would contact us, it would mean a lot to the family and help them through what has been a very distressing period in their lives.” Michael Osborne, Senior Associate

Born in November 1943, on leaving school Eric went to work as a labourer and in 1966 he began work at Drakelow Power Station near Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire.

For the next three years, Eric worked at the station as a labourer, which he told his family involved laying brickwork around insulated boilers in Power Station B. The insulation that was used at the time was asbestos insulation, meaning that Eric came directly into contact with the asbestos insulation that was around the boiler.

In addition to laying bricks, Eric was also tasked with working as an insulator at the power station, which saw him working with this asbestos insulation on a daily basis. He left Drakelow in 1969. The power station was demolished between 2005 and 2006.

Eric was a loving father and husband. He lived an active lifestyle and enjoyed travelling and woodworking.

Annette said: “Dad’s death was such a shock and even now, the family is still struggling to come to terms with the fact he’s no longer with us and that my sister and I could not be with him in his final days.

“It was terrible to not being able to leave New Zealand to be with Dad at the end. We are determined to get answers about dad’s exposure to asbestos while working at Drakelow, in honour of his memory. If any of Dad’s old workmates could get in touch, we’d be so grateful. Any details could help us get answers as to his asbestos exposure.”

Anyone with information that can help the family is asked to contact Michael Osborne at Irwin Mitchell on 0370 1500 300.

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