war

veteran died of asbestos disease

A POLISH soldier who emigrated to England after being held in a Nazi labour camp, died years after persistent exposure to asbestos at ICI, an inquest heard.

Aleksander Rams was born in the village of Jesowka in Poland and his Second World War experiences included being held in a labour camp in Austria before being liberated and training in the Polish Free Army at Montecassino.

The inquest at Crewe Law Courts heard how Mr Rams moved to Britain, married and settled in Rudheath, before being employed by ICI and doing a series of jobs during 31 years at the Lostock plant.

It was Mr Rams' days in a joinery shop that proved to have fatal consequences in October 2003 when he died, aged 79, from the asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma.

A statement made by Mr Rams a few months before he died described how he had to sweep the workshop floor after sheets of asbestos were cut and come home at night with overalls covered in white asbestos dust.

After retiring, Mr Rams enjoyed gardening and DIY but in September 2002, he started to feel run down. He had to have fluid drained from his lungs.

A doctor confirmed that it was his exposure to asbestos that had caused his untreatable illness. Mr Rams' statement said that he was never given any warnings about the dangers of asbestos while working at ICI.

Dr Janet Napier, Cheshire's deputy coroner, recorded a verdict of death from industrial disease and said: "It's always so sad when these things happen and it is like punishment for working so hard - it's like a time bomb inside these men exploding.

"There's no question that he had very serious asbestos exposure during his job."