Family’s upset over verdict

11:10am Saturday 26th April 2008

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THE family of a man who lived on an asbestos-riddled estate in Padgate has expressed their disappointment with the verdict of an inquest into his death.

William Titchard was a former resident of Anson Close, the street that was pulled down by Warrington Borough Council in 2002 after admitting it was contaminated with the toxic dust.

“I don’t agree with it but what can you do? First of all we were told it was mesothelioma and now it’s not."

Widow, Susan Titchard

He died in Warrington Hospital last May 19, aged 64.

His family thought his death was caused by asbestos-related cancer but an inquest, held at Warrington Coroner's Court yesterday, Wednesday, Cheshire Coroner Nicholas Rheinberg ruled he died from a combination of natural causes and accidental falls.

Giving evidence, Mr Titchard's widow, Susan, a 62-year-old nursing assistant, said: "We lived in two houses on the estate. He did lots of DIY and put up two partitions and lots of shelves in both houses which meant he was drilling into the walls quite a lot."

The couple lived on the estate for 11 years until they were re-housed in 2002.

The inquest heard Mr Titchard, a family man with five children and six grandchildren, took early retirement from security work due to back and chronic chest problems.

His health declined last May and was admitted to hospital with severe breathing problems on May 15.

His family were told three days later he had lung cancer, suspected to be mesothelioma, which had spread throughout his body. Mr Titchard died within 24 hours of his diagnosis after a bleed on his brain.

Dr Ana de Ramon, a consultant in respiratory medicine, said: "I saw the patient on May 18 and was informed he had several falls during the night and to prevent him from falling his mattress was on the floor."

A post mortem examination by consultant pathologist Dr Mohammed Al-Jafari revealed widespread tumours, a massive subdural haemorrhage consistent with a fall and multiple pleural plaques with the appearance of mesothelioma indicating asbestos exposure.

But a further examination of tissue samples by international pathological expert Dr Allen Gibbs concluded Mr Titchard's tumours were not related to asbestos exposure after finding only traces of the toxic fibres.

Susan Titchard said: "I don't agree with it but what can you do? First of all we were told it was mesothelioma and now it's not.

"I will be looking into contesting it but we don't have the funding to have the tissue samples re-examined.

"The council had no right to build those houses, they knew it was full of asbestos. Everybody on our estate would have been exposed to it."