The family of a man who died after developing an asbestos-related cancer are appealing for his former colleagues to come forward.
Ken Chynoweth, of West Kirby, Wirral, and who worked at ICI Chemicals and Polymers in Runcorn from 1961 to 1990, died aged 80 after developing mesothelioma.
His loss has prompted his family including stepson Andy Postlethwaite to instruct legal firm Irwin Mitchell’s asbestos-related disease specialists to investigate.
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The 80-year-old began complaining of symptoms including shortness of breath, in January 2019 and was diagnosed with mesothelioma in April 2019.
He died in December 2019. His wife Christine, Andy’s mother, died in March last year.
Andy, 50, said: “Losing Ken was awful and I know my mum found it particularly difficult to come to terms with.
“It was especially hard for us to have to watch him deteriorate and knowing there was nothing we could do to help.
“We know nothing will change what happened to Ken but we still have unanswered questions about his illness.
“His medical records refer to him being exposed to asbestos during his early days at ICI, but we do not know anything about those times, so we would be grateful if anyone who can recall working at ICI in Runcorn in the research department, particularly if they worked with Ken, could provide us with more details.
“While we can’t bring Ken back, it would at least help us honour his memory.”
Ken’s family and the legal team are now appealing for anyone who might have information over how he was exposed to asbestos to come forward, particularly anyone who worked for ICI in Runcorn.
The appeal coincides with the upcoming Action Mesothelioma Day on Friday, July 2, which is intended to provide a time to reflect on the terrible legacy of mesothelioma and the need to uphold safety standards.
Katrina London, the specialist asbestos-related disease lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing the family, said: “Ken’s death is yet another reminder of the terrible legacy asbestos has left behind with the majority of people diagnosed many years after their exposure took place.
“Understandably Andy and the rest of Ken’s loved ones have been left devastated by his death and still have a number of questions about what caused his illness.
“While nothing can make up for their loss, we’re determined to provide the family with the answers they deserve.
“Therefore we would be grateful if anyone who worked at ICI in Runcorn could come forward with information on the working conditions they faced at the site.
“Any detail could prove vital to the investigation.”
Anyone with information about working conditions at ICI in Runcorn should contact Katrina London on 0161 838 7262 or by email at Katrina.london@irwinmitchell.com.
ICI, which had been an industrial giant, ceased to exist in 2008 when it was taken over by AkzoNobel, which sold off its Runcorn assets.
