The family of a former chemical plant worker who died after developing an asbestos-related lung disease has received a six-figure pay out.
Barry Key was exposed to “significant quantities of asbestos dust” when he worked for Imperial Chemical Industries Limited (ICI) in Billingham between 1962 and 1978.
The 80-year-old garden-lover was initially “relatively fit and healthy” - but as the years went by, his health deteriorated, and even a conversation became difficult due to breathlessness.
Following his four-decade career at ICI, the Middlesbrough man developed a form of pulmonary fibrosis, an incurable lung disease caused by breathing in asbestos fibres.
Asbestosis causes permanent scarring of the lungs and progressive breathing difficulties, and it often takes decades for symptoms to appear.
He sadly died in July.
Before his death, he instructed lawyers to investigate whether his illness was due to his work at ICI - and since his death, his wife Shirley, 76, has continued his case.
Lawyers Irwin Mitchell launched High Court proceedings against ICI, arguing that the company failed to protect Barry against asbestos exposure during his employment.
While ICI initially contested the claim, following legal submissions made to the High Court, it subsequently accepted that it had breached its duty of care.
ICI and Irwin Mitchell later reached an out-of-court settlement, resulting in compensation being paid to Barry's family.
Barry's family are now speaking out during Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month to raise awareness of the impact industrial lung disease can have.
Barry began working for ICI in 1962 as part of its youth training programme.
Between 1962 and 1978 he was exposed to significant quantities of asbestos dust while working in a variety of roles at the manufacturing plant, including as an operations worker and later an instrument technician in the ammonia plant.
Barry, who married Shirley in 1970, recalled working alongside maintenance workers removing and replacing asbestos insulation on pipework and equipment.
Areas were often dusty and poorly ventilated.
Barry, who is a father to Jacqueline Key-Griffith, 41, and grandfather to Alex Key-Griffith, ten, began suffering from breathlessness in September 2022.
In February 2023, doctors advised that scarring on his lungs appeared consistent with asbestosis, and from that point his breathing difficulties continued to worsen.
He eventually moved into a hospice, where he died on July 1.
"Before he started showing symptoms Barry was relatively fit and independent,” Shirley said.
"He loved being out in the garden, looking after the house and helping wherever he could. He took great pride in driving us around and being, as he liked to put it, my chauffeur.
“He enjoyed looking after the people he loved.
"Barry loved Jacqueline and Alex deeply and our lives revolved around family. We spent as much time together as possible and enjoyed many holidays over the years.
“He had a very close relationship with Alex and they would watch cricket and football just so he could talk to Alex about it.”
Shirley said watching his health deteriorate was “heartbreaking”.
She added: “Barry became increasingly breathless and gradually lost the ability to do the things he loved.
“Even having a conversation became difficult because talking often left him short of breath and exhausted.
"While grateful for the care he received Barry found losing his independence incredibly difficult. The final months of his life were especially difficult and we miss him every day.
"Securing the settlement felt like a weight had been lifted and allowed us to remember Barry for the wonderful husband, dad and grandad he was, rather than the illness he endured in the final years of his life.
"We hope that sharing Barry's story we can help raise awareness of pulmonary fibrosis and the impact it can have on families."
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Dominic Riley, the specialist asbestos-related disease solicitor at Irwin Mitchell representing Barry’s family, said: “What happened to Barry highlights the devastating consequences asbestos exposure continues to have many years after exposure occurs.
"While nothing can ever make up for what happened, we're pleased to have secured his loved ones with the answers they deserve.
“We hope this settlement brings some measure of closure to Shirley and the rest of Barry's family as they continue to grieve his loss."
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