A WIDOW has made a hearfelt appeal for information as she battles to answer questions about her husband’s death.

Neal Rutty was 66 when he died of mesothelioma, an asbestos-related cancer, in August 2017.

Now his wife Stephanie is looking for anyone who might have information about the presence of asbestos in the schools in Cornwall, and the Dockyard in Plymouth, where he once worked.

Neal, from Redruth, had worked for Cornwall Council in schools across the county in the 1970s and 80s, as well as painting the exteriors of local authority houses.

Between 1983 and 1986 Neal worked at the Devonport Naval Base, where he was responsible for painting and decorating the boiler rooms and the changing rooms.

His family think he may have been exposed to asbestos during these years.

An active father of three with one granddaughter, until he started to suffer from back pains and respiratory problems, he had been a highly regarded painter and decorator in the local area.

Stephanie Rutty said: ’This has been the toughest time for me and my children. Our grand daughter, Emily, was a pupil at one of the schools Neal worked in during the 80s, and she remembers seeing asbestos warning stickers during refurbishment of the science block at her school in Cornwall in 2018.

’Of course, Neal was not given any such warnings, even though the dangers were known.

’Neal was still so young when he died, still working, and had so much to look forward to. To watch his health deteriorate so rapidly was heart-breaking.

’It’s so sad to think that his death could have been prevented if he had been made aware of the asbestos and provided with protective equipment.’

Stephanie is appealing for anyone who may have information to come forward.

Her lawyer Helen Grady from Simpson Millar said: ’If you worked in any schools in Cornwall during this era, either as a teacher, or a contractor, or if you worked at the Dockyards in the 80s and came across asbestos, please do get in touch as you may be able to provide vital information.’

’If you have any information please email [email protected], or call 0345 357 9600.’

Simpson Millar says that figures released in 2019 following a freedom of information request revealed that asbestos is present in nearly half of local authority run primary schools - 5,196 out of 11,219.

Another report from the DfE found that one in five schools were ‘not in line’ with guidance on managing asbestos, said the lawyers.

’While the dangers of asbestos have been known for many decades,’ said Helen Grady, ’there are still, sadly, many people dying prematurely as a result of related illnesses such as mesothelioma, because they were not made aware of its presence and provided with protective equipment.’