William Frederick Logan died from a 'heart attack and asbestos exposure'

William Frederick Logan, from Loveclough, was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn, Norfolk, on August 12, after suffering with pneumonia.

The inquest heard tests were taken at the hospital and results showed the 73-year-old had asbestos in his blood. Mr Logan died the following day.

East Lancashire coroner Richard Taylor said when reading through Mr Logan's GP statement, there was no mention of heart problems or knowledge of asbestosis - the long-term lung condition caused by prolonged exposure to asbestos.

He said the only mention of asbestos was made the day before he died.

Mr Logan's wife, Glenice Logan, did not know he was suffering from the effects of being exposed to asbestos.

She said: "After 11-12pm I never spoke to him again, he was just confused, this was caused by pneumonia.

"I knew he hadn't had a stroke."

When discussing asbestos, Mrs Logan said: "No one had told us about the lung disease, I never knew."

Histologist Ray Lonsdale, said Mr Logan had died from an acute myocardial infarction, commonly known as a heart attack, with asbestos being a contributing factor.

The inquest heard Mr Logan's job as a painter and decorator involved working on buildings which contained asbestos, and would have sanded down door frames and other items that would have contained the mineral.

Mrs Logan said her husband, who lived on Burnley Road, Loveclough, was a life-long non smoker.

In his conclusion, Mr Taylor said: "I repeat Dr Lonsdale's statement, the asbestos is a contributing factor in Mr Logan's death.

"His exposure to asbestos was during his work life.

"The cause of death was in his heart, but asbestos was a contributing factor to it.

"William Logan died at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn on August 13, 2018, from heart problems having been exposed to asbestos during his working life.

"I offer all my sincere condolences to the family and I thank you for coming here."