AN 81-year-old man who only stopped working last year died as a result of asbestos exposure during his working life, an inquest heard.

Thomas Edward Mason, known as Ted, died on September 18, 2020 at his home in Endmoor.

He was known for his work as a joiner and funeral director in the area, something he did for 60 years until 2020 when he started to become unwell, Cockermouth Coroner's Court was told.

His widow Sallie Mason said he had worked in areas where asbestos was used, which was deemed to be the cause of the mesothelioma which took his life.

"He took part in trails riding with the Westmorland Motor Club and he was successful in competitions," Mrs Mason told the hearing.

"He was a very talented man.

"He was still working until 2020, at the age of 80, when he started to get shortness of breath."

She added that the Kendal-born man was a loved and respected dad of Paul, Ian, Alan and Suzanne and father-in-law to Mark and Kate, as well as a loving grandad.

Dr Gatheral, a consultant at University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, said: "He went into the Royal Lancaster Infirmary with progressive breathlessness.

"He did not have fevers or sweating.

"He had a near collapse of the left lung which was due to a malignant pleural effusion."

MPE is the build-up of fluid and cancer cells that collects between the chest wall and the lung.

This was later diagnosed as epithelioid mesothelioma as a result of asbestos exposure and was given as the cause of death.

Coroner Ms Kirsty Gomersal accepted the medical diagnosis for the cause of death.

"I accept the evidence of asbestos exposure," she said in her conclusion.

"There was a reported history of asbestos exposure according to his wife.

"So as a result of this it is a death by industrial disease as a result of asbestos exposure."