Brian Kettley, a retired mini-bus driver, died at his home on Haverscroft Close in Taverham on January 31.
An inquest at Norfolk Coroner’s Court has revealed how the 82-year-old – a former contract electrician in Dereham – was exposed to the fibrous mineral during the early stages of his career.
Norfolk Coroner’s Court (Image: Newsquest)
The court was told Mr Kettley, who also had Alzheimer’s disease and arthritis, suffered exposure during his time working as an electrician.
His medical cause of death was given as severe coronary artery atheroma and asbestosis.
A statement from his daughter read out in court said Mr Kettley “later recalled drilling into asbestos” while working as an apprentice and maintenance electrician in London.
Mr Kettley, who was born in Stratford, then worked in a post office and as a telecom engineer for BT before becoming a mini-bus driver in later life.
Norfolk Coroner’s Court (Image: Mike Page)
He moved to live in a bungalow in Norwich in 2018 and spent the last seven years of his life being cared for by his daughter.
In her statement, she added that her father “developed a cold which got worse” in the days before his death. He was diagnosed with pneumonia and his “condition deteriorated across the following days”.
Concluding his inquest, area coroner Yvonne Blake said: “He had been an electrician and had been exposed to asbestos when he would drill into walls.
Yvonne Blake, area coroner at Norfolk Coroner’s Court (Image: Newsquest)
“His main problem seemed to be breathlessness which worsened over the years.
“The grade of his breathlessness worsened and he couldn’t dress or undress without getting breathless.
“Some fibres were found. His primary cause of death appears to be cardiac.”
She gave a short-form conclusion of natural causes contributed to by industrial disease.