Family Asks Lawyers To Investigate Following Dad-Of-Two’s Mesothelioma Death

The wife of a former colliery worker has asked lawyers to investigate how he was exposed to the asbestos that claimed his life.

Stuart Jackson, from Castleford was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lung associated with exposure to asbestos, often decades previously.

Wife asks specialist asbestos-related disease lawyers to investigate

Following the 66-year-old’s death, his wife, Carole Jackson, 67, instructed specialist asbestos-related disease lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate his illness and if it could be linked to his work history.

Carole has now joined with her legal team to appeal to any of Stuart’s former workmates to come forward with information they may have on the conditions the dad-of-two faced during his career.

They are keen to hear from anyone who remembers working with Stuart at Glasshoughton Colliery in the 1970’s and 1980’s.

Oliver Collett is the specialist asbestos-related disease lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing Carole.

Expert Opinion

“Carole and her loved ones remain devastated by Stuart’s death and the hole it has left in their family.

“Stuart’s death is yet another terrible reminder of the legacy asbestos has created and how the consequences to exposure aren’t often known until many years later. What’s even more upsetting for Stuart’s family is the relatively young at which he died for mesothelioma.

“Understandably Carole has a number of concerns over his exposure. While nothing can make up for what his family are going through we’re determined to provide them with the answers they deserve.

“If anyone who worked at Glasshoughton Colliery with Stuart could come forward it would mean a lot to his family and could make all the difference to the investigation into his asbestos exposure.” Oliver Collett

Mesothelioma: Stuart Jackson’s story

Born in 1957, Stuart left school aged 15 and went to work for the National Coal Board in 1972 at Glasshoughton Colliery. Stuart undertook a variety of roles, from working on the pit top, to working in the stockyard, stores and the lamp room.

After spending some time working at another colliery, Stuart returned to the Glasshoughton in 1979, when he started working as a medical centre attendant.

This medical centre shared a building with the pit head baths. Stuart told Carole that during his time working in the medical centre, the pit head baths were refurbished, with widespread removal of lagging – believed to have contained asbestos – from the plant and hot water pipes that fed the pit baths. These pipes ran throughout the building where Stuart worked.

During the refurbishment works Stuart said the area was not cordoned off, allowing dust and fibres to contaminate the area where he worked. Contractors would stuff debris into bags that they’d walk out with.

Stuart and Carole married in 1976 and had two children, daughter Vicky Jackson, 42, and son Lee Jackson, 39. Vicky has an adult son, Callum and Lee has three children, Amelia, Liam and Connor.

After having a pacemaker fitted in 2022, Stuart and his family noticed he’d developed a persistent cough and had several chest infections. Following tests, he was diagnosed with mesothelioma in November 2022.

He died at home surrounded by his family on 7 March, 2023.

Carole pays tribute to a hardworking man who appreciated life

Carole said: “It’s still so hard to speak about Stuart without getting upset. He was a hardworking man who didn’t deserve to suffer so much or to have his life cut short at such a young age by this terrible disease. Our plans for the future are now in tatters.

“Stuart appreciated life and he was a committed husband and dad who loved nothing better than spending time with the family. He was my best friend and the children and grandchildren were his world. Children are resilient but the last year or so without Stuart has been hard on all of us.

“When Stuart was diagnosed with mesothelioma he wanted to get to the bottom of his asbestos exposure. However, he was too ill and our time together as a family was so precious in those final weeks.

“We’ve decided that the least we can do is to try and find out the truth about his asbestos exposure. The colliery was a well-known employer and Stuart was a popular man. We really hope some people will help us and come forward with their recollections. The men who worked there were a close community and we’d be so grateful to hear from them.”

Anyone with information that could help Carole is asked to contact Oliver Collett at Irwin Mitchell on 0113 394 6784 or e-mail oliver.collett@irwinmitchell.com

Find out more about our expertise in handling asbestos-related disease cases at the dedicated section on our website. Alternatively, to speak to an expert, contact us or call 0808 271 9815.

Workers’ Memorial Day is on 28 April and this year’s theme is Occupational health and safety: A fundamental right at work.