Asbestos ruled out as cause of Bernard Brigham's death (From York Press)

Asbestos ruled out as cause of Bernard Brigham's death

9:01am Monday 22nd March 2010 in

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A FORMER gamekeeper did not die of asbestos-related illnesses, a York inquest heard.

Bernard Brigham, 77, of Pocklington, who died in March last year, worked as a joiner in his youth, leading to speculation he might have inhaled asbestos or harmful dust during that time.

It was suggested that Mr Brigham was also exposed to bacteria from pheasants.

But York coroner Donald Coverdale read a report which stated no evidence of asbestos had been found in Mr Brigham’s lungs. The report also said lung tissue had been tested for asbestos and harmful dust from his profession as a gamekeeper.

Mr Coverdale registered cause of death as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a lung disease, and ischaemic heart disease.

Summing up, Mr Coverdale said he was satisfied with the findings, and it was unlikely that Mr Brigham’s occupation had caused his illness.