A MAN died almost half a century after contracting mesothelioma while working at Swindon's Princess Margaret Hospital, an inquest was told.

Retired electrical engineer Graham Purse, 69, of Burley View, Bussage near Stroud, helped to remove asbestos lagging from the hospital.

Before he died Mr Purse, who made a successful claim against his former employers, made a statement which read: "Between 1969 and 1970 I carried out work at the Swindon hospital where I was exposed to asbestos.

"I worked in loft areas where asbestos lagging was being removed.

"It was a confined space and I was not given masks or any protective clothing.

"Nearly three years ago my breathing began to deteriorate and examinations at hospital revealed that I had contracted malignant mesothelioma."

Gloucestershire Coroner's Court heard how his job later led to him getting the lung cancer mesothelioma in 2014.

Mr Purse died at his home with members of his family present.

Assistant coroner Caroline Saunders, recording a verdict of death by industrial disease, said: "The cause of this man's illness and subsequent death on June 8, this year was his exposure to asbestos."