Family's search for answers after ex-Ford worker dad dies from asbestos cancer
A family are searching for answers after their much loved dad died of an asbestos-related cancer after working at a Ford factory for more than 15 years.
Father-of-three Alphanso Eyers died in May 2021 from mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lung associated with exposure to asbestos, often decades previously.
After his diagnosis in 2020 Alphanso began looking at his work history to uncover how he could have come into contact with asbestos.
His partner Beverley Brown, 62, and his daughters Christine Eyers, 45, Lorraine Eyers, 50 and Reba Brown-Eyers, 27, are continuing this search for answers and now want to speak to anyone who worked at the factory in Dagenham in the 70s and 80s, who may be able to help them.
Speaking about their 71-year-old dad, Reba said: "It has been devastating losing my dad. He was someone I could always talk to about life and world politics.
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"He was always a wise old sage and had such a beautiful aura people always gravitated towards him. My sisters and I have had an immeasurable loss in our lives.
The father-of-three died from asbestos cancer (Irwin Mitchell)"If anyone who remembers working with dad in the '70s and '80s could come forward, my sisters and I would be so grateful. It would be great to hear from people and it could be such a big help in establishing the facts about his mesothelioma dad was looking for."
The part of Alphanso's life his family and lawyers are most interested in is between December 1973 and April 1988 when he worked as a production operator for the Ford Motor Company in Dagenham.
Prior to his death Alphanso had recalled hearing that pipes throughout the Ford plant had been lagged with a material which possibly could have been asbestos.
Paul Ramsay, the asbestos-related disease specialist at Irwin Mitchell supporting the family, told My London: "A year on from Alphanso's death, the family remain devastated by their loss.
"Understandably they have a number of questions about how Alphanso was exposed to asbestos, which has made the process of trying to come to terms with his loss all the more difficult.
The Ford factory in Dagenham (PA Archive/PA Photos)"While nothing can make up for their loss we're determined to help provide the family with the answers family deserve. If any of his former workmates could come forward, their help could prove vital in giving the whole family and Alphanso's children some form of closure."
Though suffering from chest-pains and shortness of breath during and in the years leading up to his illness, Alphonso was a keen gardener and family man, often making trips with Beverley to Jamaica to visit family.
He also received his treatment in Jamaica and despite being a devoted grandfather sadly died there before he had the chance to meet his youngest grandchild.
Workers at the Ford factory in Dagenham (Mirrorpix)A spokesperson for Ford said: "While it is not appropriate for us to discuss individual matters of this kind, Ford has settled a number of mesothelioma-related claims relating to former employees who worked at Dagenham during the 1960s to 1980s, when the risks over exposure to asbestos were far less understood than in subsequent years.
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"Any claims are considered on individual facts and circumstances.
"It remains Ford's top priority to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our people, and we have in place extensive systems to ensure we take all necessary safety precautions when dealing with potentially hazardous materials in the workplace."
If you think you can help Alphanso's family you can email their lawyer at [email protected]
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