A former accountant from the East Riding of Yorkshire, who has been diagnosed with a fatal asbestos cancer, is calling on former colleagues for help to assist with a claim for compensation.

Michael Collier, a 79-year-old father and grandfather from Shiptonthorpe worked for Birkenhead County Borough Council between 1971 and 1973, Mersey Regional Health Authority as Treasurer between 1978 and 1985 and held a senior position at Liverpool Health Authority between 1985 and 1990.

 

Michael Collier

It is believed he could have been exposed to asbestos during this time (1971-1990) as he was exposed to construction work at the Grange Precinct Development while working for Birkenhead County Borough Council and worked in and frequently visited hospitals while at Liverpool Health Authority, including the closed Liverpool Royal Infirmary building.

Mr Collier said: “I went into the basement and boiler room of the Royal Infirmary which were very dusty.”

 

After developing breathing difficulties, he went to his GP and was diagnosed with mesothelioma in October 2021.

“The last few months have been so difficult to process. I really hope I can reach some people who can help back up the fact asbestos was present in my workplace.”

Mesothelioma is a cancer associated with the inhalation of asbestos and often takes more than 40 years for symptoms to develop after exposure. According to the Health and Safety Executive, mesothelioma killed 2,446 people in Great Britain in 2018.

Mr Collier has enlisted Thompsons Solicitors to assist with his claim. The legal experts have paved the way for asbestos litigation in the UK ever since it brought about the first successful asbestos disease claim to the House of Lords in 1972.

Charlie Bradley of Thompsons Solicitors’ Leeds office, said: “Michael worked at these organisations for such a large part of his career. It is so important that anyone who worked with him comes forward to help get the answers he and his family are so desperate for.”

Anyone with information that could help Mr Collier with his claim should contact Charlie Bradley at Thompsons Solicitors on CharlieBradley@thompsons.law.co.uk or phone 0113 205 6385.