A RETIRED ship worker from North Yorkshire is hoping his former work colleagues will help him get justice for his asbestos-related cancer.

Donald Watson, 81, of Easingwold, worked at the Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd shipyard on the Tyne as a painter and decorator.

Earlier this year, he was diagnosed with mesothelioma, an incurable form of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos, which he believes is the result of working conditions in the yard.

He is appealing for anyone who also worked in the Swan Hunter yard to come forward to help his solicitors, Irwin Mitchell of Leeds, investigate whether the firm could have done more to protect him.

“I was very shocked by the diagnosis and am coming to terms with it," he said. "I’m managing to cope on a daily basis and I just make sure that I don’t overdo things."

Mr Watson, originally from Gateshead, worked for several different companies in Tyneside as a painter and decorator.

He said that during his time at the Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson shipyard in 1961, he worked near pipework lagged with asbestos. He daily painted in areas including engine rooms, corridors and cabins, sanded down pipework and repainted it. He was also part of the team that built SSP Principe Perfeito, a Portuguese passenger ship.

In 2014, he started feeling unwell and after medical tests, he was diagnosed with mesothelioma in February this year.

“I never knew that the work that I did so many years ago would affect my life now," he said. "I really hope that former employees will now help the team at Irwin Mitchell to give any information about the conditions that I worked in so my family and I can get the justice that I deserve.”

Nicola Handley, a specialist industrial disease lawyer at Irwin Mitchell's Leeds office, said asbestos was regularly used in the shipbuilding industry.

"Sadly, many employers did not do enough to manage the risks of asbestos exposure, despite knowing how dangerous it is," she said.

“We hope that former employees who worked at Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd will come forward to help us with our investigations. It’s important that we now help Donald and his family get answers about his exposure to the deadly dust.”

Her email is nicola.handley@irwinmitchell.com and her phone number is 0113 220 6233.