March 12th, 2007

The son of a UK cancer victim has been awarded a five figure sum for compensation after his father passed away from the asbestos related disease known as mesothelioma. Stephen Addison was a former shipyard worker on Tyneside, and passed away from the asbestos related disease at the age of eighty-nine.

The son of the deceased – also named Stephen – sought compensation after his father passed away in 2005. He has now won a five figure sum. His father worked at a number of shipyards on the River Tyne between the years of 1939 and the late 1960s.

Stephen Addison, Jr. sought legal assistance through a free legal service, Amicus, who helped him to win the five figure sum. He stated: 'My dad worked in every yard on the river as did many shipyard workers at the time. He would return home from work covered in asbestos dust and at the time he did not realise it would lead to ill health in the future. Over the years he had seen many of his friends die from mesothelioma. As a family we felt it was only right to claim compensation. He was made to work in those appalling conditions and we felt there should be justice for his death.'

An Amicus spokesperson added: 'Many of our union members in the North East have suffered from asbestos-related illnesses and we work hard to ensure their employers take responsibility.'