AN Islander died due to “industrial disease” after exposure to asbestos throughout his career which increasingly impacted his quality of life over decades.
The inquest into the death of Terence Firks Andrews, who died aged 92 at St Joseph’s Care Home in November last year from a lower respiratory tract infection suspected to be linked to asbestos exposure, concluded yesterday.
It was heard that he had been suffering from breathing difficulties for many years before becoming a resident of the care home in February 2025 and receiving end-of-life care a week before his death.
A statement written by a family member was read out by police coroner’s officer Andrew Prentice which detailed their “collective memory” of what he had told them of his “long working career”.
They described how he had “several roles” in the 1960s and 70s relating to electrical work and boiler engineering at “many job sites” and “historical buildings” contaminated with the toxic material over the years.
They added that he had described seeing “clouds of asbestos” at one, and that he’d thought “working in confined mechanical rooms” had increased his likelihood of “inhaling disturbed” material which releases the hazardous fibers into the air.
While Mr Andrews lived a long life, the family added that he had told them that he had lost people he had worked closely with who had suffered early deaths after being diagnosed with cancer.
His family also laid bare how his condition had begun to deteriorate as far back as 30 to 40 years ago, despite him “living an active life” kayaking to try to mitigate the effects of his exposure.
Previously having “never been a smoker”, Mr Andrews had expressed to medical staff that he “felt low and frustrated” about the impact his symptoms had on his life, it was also heard.
He had “increasing breathing difficulties” that left him struggling to climb steps, collapsing at cafes and having to sit near a window to be able to breathe, unable to even whistle or sing, his family described.
But in a letter written by a doctor read out, it was heard he turned down medication that could control his symptoms because it was “too sedating” and he “wanted to be present for his wife with advanced dementia” when visiting her at her care home.
The coroner said radiology scans had shown asbestos-related pleural plaques – thick areas of tissue that form when fibers of the toxic material penetrate the lungs.
Deputy Viscount Matt Berry, sitting as coroner, said he was “satisfied” that there was “sufficient evidence” of asbestos exposure during his career and that he had a type of lung disease caused by it.
Therefore, while he said the role of the inquest is not to determine where he was exposed to the asbestos, he concluded his death was “caused by industrial disease”, as he expressed his condolences to the family.
