A GRIEVING daughter has paid tribute to her ‘absolute gentleman’ of a father who died from an asbestos-related disease just 12 days after being diagnosed, an inquest has heard.

Leonard Chapman, 90, died in the early hours of August 30 in West Cumberland Hospital after being treated palliatively following a diagnosis of mesothelioma, an asbestos-related malignant cancer, on August 18 in the hospital. 

A statement submitted to the court by his daughter, Mrs Vincent, described him as a ‘very much-loved husband (to Yvonne) and father’. 

She said that Mr Chapman, born in Dalton, Lancashire in 1933 but latterly of Whitehaven, began his working life in 1948 as a tiler and builder, and was ‘exposed to asbestos widely’.

A report from Mr Chapman’s GP confirmed that he was diagnosed with asbestosis in 1990.

A statement by Dr Mudedla, a consultant in general medicine at West Cumberland Hospital, said that Mr Chapman attended A&E on August 1 with symptoms including severe dehydration and an acute kidney infection.

He underwent several examinations and investigations while at the hospital, and was diagnosed with mesothelioma on August 18.

The decision was made to treat Mr Chapman palliatively, as he likely would not survive invasive treatment or chemotherapy.

His condition deteriorated rapidly on August 29, and he passed away at 12.45am on August 30. 

His daughter shared some moving memories with the court of her father's 90th birthday party, held in March. She said: “I’m so glad it didn't go on for months and years. 

“We had a great 90th birthday party for him, with a hundred people there. He was dancing, singing with his friends.

“I’m so glad he didn't suffer a long, really nasty death.”

She reminisced about his last photograph, taken with his great-granddaughter at his grandson’s birthday in June. 

She said: “He looked amazing. He didn't look 90. He has five grandchildren, five great-grandchildren with another one on the way."

Area coroner for Cumbria, Ms Kirsty Gomersal, said: “Mr Leonard Chapman was an absolute gentleman. He was a much-loved husband and an adored father. He was loved by all who knew him. 

“He clearly comes from a very supportive family who have many happy memories of his 90th birthday in May, which was a joyous occasion, and the family joined by the male voice choir, in which Mr Chapman had sung. 

“He leaves a long and happy legacy, and he will be happily remembered, I’m sure, for many years to come.” 

Ms Gomersal accepted a cause of death of broncho-pneumonia, caused by mesothelioma, caused by exposure to asbestos. She concluded that Mr Chapman, of Foxhouses Road, Whitehaven, died of an industrial disease.