An inquest into the death of Dagenham man John Nutt was told that in the late 1950s, he began work at the Royal Albert Dock in Newham.
In a statement prepared before his death, he recounted being “involved in the transportation of asbestos”.
“Frequently, he would be called upon to move hessian sacks of powdered asbestos,” senior coroner Graeme Irvine told East London Coroner’s Court.
Mr Nutt remembered “clouds of dust being formed” by the lethal substance.
“At that time, the dangers of asbestos were not widely known,” Mr Nutt said. He was “not provided with any safety equipment”.
“Family members who worked alongside him at the docks have passed away from asbestosis,” said Mr Irvine.
In an inquest on Monday, June 30, Mr Irvine found the same fate had befallen 87-year-old Mr Nutt, of Rothwell Road.
He had outlived his five siblings and his wife of almost 60 years, but died on November 12.
An autopsy proved he died from scarring of the lungs caused by asbestos exposure – known as asbestosis.
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“He was hardworking and always provided for his family,” his daughter Elizabeth told the coroner.
“Dad was always there when we needed him and he never let us down.”
Even when he became very ill, she said, “he never complained and would never say if he was in pain or discomfort”.
Mr Nutt suffered in his final years with breathing difficulties and weight loss, which doctors suspected were asbestos-related.
He declined the “painful and invasive” biopsy required to confirm it, but did begin a process of investigation – hence the statement supplied to Mr Irvine.
By the time he died at an address in Edward Road, Chadwell Heath, he had shrunk to just 37 kilogrammes – less than six stone.
The court heard Mr Nutt’s family had “concerns” over whether his condition could have been detected or treated earlier.
“Nobody wants to see anybody suffer,” his daughter Elizabeth told the coroner. “And he did suffer with the breathing for quite some time.”
But, the coroner said, there was little treatment beyond pain management for asbestosis.
He said asbestos-related illness “lies dormant for decades and then, when it causes symptoms, in most cases it is too late. There is very little that can be done.”
Mr Irvine ruled Mr Nutt’s death was due to “industrial disease… caused by exposure to asbestos in the course of his employment.”
