A FORMER ship yard worker has spoken of his race against time to establish how he contracted asbestos-related lung cancer which looks set to shorten his life.

James Hayes of Whinney Banks, Middlesbrough, was diagnosed with lung cancer after a fall in April 2019 which injured his shoulder and broke some ribs.

Scans carried out then confirmed that he had been exposed to asbestos dust and was suffering from lung cancer.

Enlisting the help of asbestos-related disease lawyers at Irwin Mitchell, the 87-year-old is desperate to the determine more of his illness before it is too late.

He said: “Nothing can prepare you for the news that you have cancer. It was a total shock when the doctors told me I had cancer and that it was terminal.

“The last few months and trying to come to terms with my diagnosis has been incredibly difficult.

“Nothing can make up for what has happened and I try not to think too much about what the future may bring.

“I have so many questions about how I could have been exposed to asbestos and I think I deserve answers, not just for me but for my family."

After completing his National Service in the RAF, Mr Hayes joined Smith’s Docks Company, at South Bank, in 1956 as a painter.

Over the next two years he painted the interior and exterior of ships being built or which were in for repair.

During this time Mr Hayes recalls working near laggers who would insulate pipes with asbestos as well as having to sweep up rubbish in preparation for painting.

Between 1958 and 1960 he carried out a similar role at Furness Shipping Company Ltd based in Haverton Hill.

Mr Hill returned to Smith’s Docks in 1962 for several months before again returning to Furness Shipbuilding later in 1962 where he worked for several years.

In 1966 he joined ICI in Wilton as a plater’s mate which saw him working alongside craftsmen and tradesman. Part of the role involved stripping pipes of suspected asbestos lagging.

He worked at ICI until 1988 when he forced to retire, aged 55, after suffering a stroke.

Mr Hayes has now joined his enlisted legal team in appealing to former workmates to come forward with information about the conditions he faced during his career.

They are particularly keen to hear from anyone who worked with James at Smith’s Docks Company and Furness Shipbuilding Company, both in Middlesbrough, as well as at ICI Wilton in Redcar.

He said: “It can’t change what has happened to me, but hopefully by having my old workmates come forward it will enable my family to understand why this happened and how before it’s too late.

"The smallest piece of information may mean the world to us.”

Anyone with information should contact Megan Gascoigne at Irwin Mitchell on 0191 4340708