A shipwright who had worked alongside an asbestos mixing operation at Milford Haven Docks in the 1940s, died of asbestosis in his 80s, an inquest heard today (Thursday).

Glanvyl John Jones worked at the docks on leaving school. Although he was not involved in the processing of asbestos himself, asbestos was mixed by hand alongside where he worked.

In the late 1940s he moved to Saundersfoot and worked at a boatyard, which he later bought, until he retired in 1987.

HM Coroner for Pembrokeshire, Mark Layton, heard that Mr Jones had been in good health until ten years before his death, when he was diagnosed with liver cancer. At the time of his treatment for the disease it was also noticed that he was suffering from asbestosis.

He had suffered with breathing problems for ten to 15 years but his family believed it was bronchitis.

On December 21st 2009 Mr Jones went to bed as normal. In the night his son, who he lived with, heard a noise and discovered that his father had fallen out of bed. His son was unable to get him back into bed, so made him comfortable on the floor and checked on him every half hour.

At 7am he checked on him and realised that he was not breathing and was cold. An ambulance was called and paramedics pronounced Mr Jones dead.

A consultant respiratory physician said that he had last seen Mr Jones in 2004 when he had benign asbestos related plural disease, from exposure to asbestos in Milford Haven Docks and during the war.

HM Coroner for Pembrokeshire, Mark Layton, recorded that Mr Jones died from the industrial disease of asbestosis.