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| Rapid decline of a healthy worker | Rapid decline of a healthy worker |
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| By Andy McFarlane BBC News Tom King believes many tradesmen do not realise the dangers of asbestos | By Andy McFarlane BBC News Tom King believes many tradesmen do not realise the dangers of asbestos |
| Some 4,000 people a year are dying from the effects of asbestos, the Health and Safety Executive has said. | Some 4,000 people a year are dying from the effects of asbestos, the Health and Safety Executive has said. |
| Well into his 60s, carpenter Tom King was an active tradesman who regularly carried heavy timber, steel joists and scaffolding. | Well into his 60s, carpenter Tom King was an active tradesman who regularly carried heavy timber, steel joists and scaffolding. |
| But within weeks of developing agonising chest pains, he was diagnosed with mesothelioma and given just 18 months to live. | But within weeks of developing agonising chest pains, he was diagnosed with mesothelioma and given just 18 months to live. |
| Two years on, the 65-year-old is still battling the illness and able to enjoy his five grandchildren. | Two years on, the 65-year-old is still battling the illness and able to enjoy his five grandchildren. |
| But simple tasks like climbing the stairs or tying his shoelaces leave him fighting for breath. | But simple tasks like climbing the stairs or tying his shoelaces leave him fighting for breath. |
| His problems stem from his time as a 15-year-old trainee for Greenwich-based Grant and Partners. | His problems stem from his time as a 15-year-old trainee for Greenwich-based Grant and Partners. |
| Tom King: 'I wasn't aware of the risks' | |
| The firm, no longer in business, was refurbishing Courage & Barclay pubs around London and one of his jobs was to cut and fit fire-proof asbestos boarding. | The firm, no longer in business, was refurbishing Courage & Barclay pubs around London and one of his jobs was to cut and fit fire-proof asbestos boarding. |
| "I had no idea it was dangerous and neither did my governors at the time," said Mr King, from south-east London. | "I had no idea it was dangerous and neither did my governors at the time," said Mr King, from south-east London. |
| "About 10 years ago, I took off a few old corrugated asbestos cement roofs but by then I knew how to wrap it up and damp it down to make it safe." | "About 10 years ago, I took off a few old corrugated asbestos cement roofs but by then I knew how to wrap it up and damp it down to make it safe." |
| Mr King said being told he had mesothelioma, a type of cancer that attacks the lining of the lungs, came as a complete shock. I can't even get on the floor to play with my grandchildren Tom King | Mr King said being told he had mesothelioma, a type of cancer that attacks the lining of the lungs, came as a complete shock. I can't even get on the floor to play with my grandchildren Tom King |
| "I was pretty active until I suddenly got a pain in my chest when I lay down in bed," said the father-of-four. | "I was pretty active until I suddenly got a pain in my chest when I lay down in bed," said the father-of-four. |
| When prescription painkillers failed to help, he was referred to hospital where a half-litre of fluid was drained from one lung but a bronchoscopy revealed nothing. | When prescription painkillers failed to help, he was referred to hospital where a half-litre of fluid was drained from one lung but a bronchoscopy revealed nothing. |
| Only after a specialist referral did he discover the extent of a problem that - having taken 50 years to develop - would lead to his rapid deterioration. | Only after a specialist referral did he discover the extent of a problem that - having taken 50 years to develop - would lead to his rapid deterioration. |
| "When the doctor said I had mesothelioma, I said 'what's that?'. Until recently, not many people had heard of it. | "When the doctor said I had mesothelioma, I said 'what's that?'. Until recently, not many people had heard of it. |
| "Now I can't even get on the floor to play with my grandchildren. I used to play the odd round of golf but I can't swing any more." | "Now I can't even get on the floor to play with my grandchildren. I used to play the odd round of golf but I can't swing any more." |
| Several sessions of chemotherapy and an operation to remove the affected lung helped extend his life expectancy and Mr King is philosophical about the time he has left. | Several sessions of chemotherapy and an operation to remove the affected lung helped extend his life expectancy and Mr King is philosophical about the time he has left. |
| Concerns for colleagues | Concerns for colleagues |
| "I'm a member of the National Trust and I can walk short distances on the flat, so I often visit their parks. And I'm going to be a grandfather again shortly, so I'm really looking forward to that," said Mr King. | "I'm a member of the National Trust and I can walk short distances on the flat, so I often visit their parks. And I'm going to be a grandfather again shortly, so I'm really looking forward to that," said Mr King. |
| "If I go round being depressed, then that's just time wasted so I try to be as happy as I can. I have a wonderful family and friends." | "If I go round being depressed, then that's just time wasted so I try to be as happy as I can. I have a wonderful family and friends." |
| However, he does worry about those who have followed him into the trades. | However, he does worry about those who have followed him into the trades. |
| "I don't think people are aware of the risks from asbestos," he said. | "I don't think people are aware of the risks from asbestos," he said. |
| "It's still in a lot of old buildings and not just in fire-proofing but decorative ceilings and so many other things that people don't realise. | "It's still in a lot of old buildings and not just in fire-proofing but decorative ceilings and so many other things that people don't realise. |
| "What makes me angry is that you can't sue the companies that manufactured it." | "What makes me angry is that you can't sue the companies that manufactured it." |