Died from asbestos related disease, mesothelioma
The family of a young mother who died from asbestos related disease mesothelioma is searching for more information about where she was exposed to the deadly dust.
Tracey Carpenter from Kettering was just 43 when she died from the cancer of the lining of the lungs in November this year.
She had been diagnosed with mesothelioma just a few months earlier in July.
No cure for mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos and can take decades before the symptoms occur.
There is no cure for the disease and many patients live just a few months after they are diagnosed.
Tracey, who left behind her 18-year-old daughter Jade, 16-year-old son Reece and partner Gary Haldane, could not recall working with asbestos.
Exposed to asbestos dust by father's overalls
It is understood she may have been exposed to the dust brought home on contaminated clothing by her father who worked at British Steel in Corby. Mr Charles Fairey, who died in 1980, aged 56, worked as a crane driver in the Bessemer Plant of British Steel from 1956 to 1980.
Before she died, Tracey, who worked at Kettering Borough Council as a customer services advisor, remembered her father coming from work wearing dusty clothing when she was a child. She also remembered helping with the laundry which included her father’s work clothes.
Gary has instructed asbestos claims specialists Thompsons Solicitors who are investigating the possibility of obtaining compensation.
Did you work with Charles Fairey at Corby Steelworks?
The family would like anyone who worked as a crane driver or on the maintenance of cranes at the Corby Steelworks or who worked alongside Charles Fairey to get in touch with any information about the presence of asbestos.
Gary said Tracey was always fit and healthy and her death came as a huge shock.
He said: “Tracey was always on the go so when she was diagnosed with mesothelioma it was a massive shock for the whole family, particularly when we realised that it was untreatable.
“Tracey loved to cycle and dreamt that she would climb Mount Kilimanjaro before she turned 50. She had so much life to live and had so many challenges she wanted to complete. She never imagined that her life would be cut short in this way.
“It means a great deal to the whole family to find out more about how Tracey was exposed to asbestos. We would urge anyone who worked as a crane driver at British Steel in Corby to get in touch.”
Appeal for anyone who worked as a crane driver at the Corby plant to come forward
Neil Baines from Thompsons Solicitors said: “Many people mistakenly believe mesothelioma is a disease which only affects elderly men who previously worked in heavy industry or construction.
“However we are seeing an increasing number of tragic cases where asbestos has devastated the lives of young women like Tracey.
“It is important we build up an accurate picture of how she was exposed to asbestos and would urge anyone who worked as a crane driver at the Corby plant to come forward.”
Anyone who has any information should contact Neil Baines on 08000 224 224.
This news story was also published by The Evening Telegraph.
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