A retiree who enjoyed “more cruises than hot dinners” died after being exposed to asbestos in a Norfolk hospital, a court has heard. 

John Adams, a retired electrical engineer, died at his home in Bradfield Road, North Walsham, on February 18. 

An inquest into his death held at Norfolk Coroner’s Court on June 11 heard that the 77-year-old became unwell in 2022. 

Following a GP referral and hospital tests, he was diagnosed with a high-grade mesothelioma in September of that year. 

He declined rapidly during the last few months of his life and passed away at home. 

In a statement to the court, based at County Hall, Norwich, his brother Paul Adams said: “Before he got ill, John enjoyed life and was very healthy with no known medical conditions. 

“He and his wife, Susan, used to go on more cruises than I’ve had hot dinners, so he lived his retirement to the full. 

“Around about 16 months ago, he slowly got weaker as his breathing got more difficult and he had a pain in his back and hip. 

“Throughout 2023, John was doing okay until the last month or so when he started to deteriorate. 

“During the last few weeks of his life he went downhill and became very confused. 

“He died at home, which is what he wanted. But he had managed to get another cruise in at the beginning [of his illness]. 

“We think he got the mesothelioma while working in a hospital in Norwich years ago.” 

The medical cause of death was given as metastatic mesothelioma. 

The area coroner, Samantha Goward, recorded “industrial disease” as her conclusion. 

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