Family Asks Lawyers To Investigate Man’s Mesothelioma Death

The wife of a former Suffolk power station worker is appealing to her husband’s ex-workmates for help following his death from asbestos-related cancer.

Richie Devall died just three weeks after being diagnosed with mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lung associated with exposure to asbestos, often decades previously.

Specialist asbestos-related disease lawyers instructed to investigate

Following the 78-year-old’s death, his wife Christine Devall, 80, instructed specialist asbestos-related disease lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate Richie’s illness and if it could be linked to his work history.

Christine has now joined with her legal team in appealing to her husband’s former workmates for information on the conditions he faced.

The family are keen to trace anyone who worked with Richie at the former Sizewell A Nuclear Power Station near Leiston in Suffolk in 1965. Richie was employed at the site as an apprentice electrical engineer working in the turbine halls.

Rebecca Buxton is the specialist asbestos-related disease lawyer at Irwin Mitchell supporting Christine.

Expert Opinion

“Christine and her family are devastated by Richie’s death which is another reminder of the terrible legacy asbestos has created.

“Richie’s diagnosis with mesothelioma came as a shock to the whole family and has left them with a lot of unanswered questions regarding his exposure to asbestos. While nothing can bring Richie back, we’re determined to help them.

“If anyone who worked with Richie during his time at Sizewell A could come forward it would mean a lot to his loved ones and could make all the difference in providing them with the answers and closure they deserve following the death of a much-loved husband and dad.” Rebecca Buxton

Mesothelioma: Richie Devall’s story

Richie’s family believe that he would have worked in close proximity to laggers in the turbine halls. These workers were responsible for insulating pipes with material they believed may have contained asbestos. Richie left Sizewell A in 1965.  The power station closed in 2006.

Richie married Christine in 1966 and the couple have two sons, Peter, 49 and Rob, 47 and four grandchildren, Liam, 25, Rhiannon, 23 and Florence and Betsy, who are 15.

Richie, of Charfield, Gloucestershire, was a respected engineer and scientist throughout his career and when he retired, he had been working as a principal scientist, specialising in guided missiles.

A committed family man and car fanatic

Richie was a committed family man, who loved spending time with his wife and children. He loved travelling abroad, especially to Italy, but his main passion was cars.

His family described him as a car fanatic and this involved sprinting cars - racing against the clock - and he was always working on his cars so that they could go faster. Richie even built his own car, a Burlington Arrow, from a set of plans.

Richie started to have lung problems in 2022. Following tests, he was diagnosed with mesothelioma on 6 April 2022. The disease progressed quickly and Richie died on 28 April, 2022, surrounded by his family.

Wife pays tribute to a thoroughly decent man who cared deeply about his family and others

Christine said: “Losing Richie has been devastating for all of us. There’s not a day that goes by that we don’t think of him or what his loss has cost us.

“My husband was a bright and very academic man. He researched everything, even when he was diagnosed with mesothelioma and he knew this dreadful illness would take his life.

“Richie was not only a committed academic but he was also a thoroughly decent man, who cared deeply about our family and other people. When the doctor gave us the diagnosis, Richie told him he was sorry he’d had to tell him and was concerned for the doctor’s feelings. It tells you everything about the manner of man he was and why we loved him so much.

“Richie was a methodical man who didn’t like loose ends and sadly the illness meant he couldn’t complete his research into how he came to be exposed to asbestos. This is one project we can complete in his memory and we’d be so grateful for any information to answer our questions and allow Richie to rest in peace.”

Anyone with information that could help Christine and the family is asked to contact Rebecca Buxton at Irwin Mitchell on Rebecca.buxton@irwinmitchell.com or telephone: 0117 926 1552

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