What happened

Great-grandfather Paul Sloots died less than a year after being diagnosed with mesothelioma, an aggressive form of lung cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. His last few months were described as “horrible and cruel” by his granddaughter, Tegan, who paid tribute to her beloved grandfather.

The 71-year-old had worked as a burner in the demolition of buildings and was regularly charged with removing asbestos lagging from pipework. Exposure to asbestos can cause mesothelioma, though it can take decades for symptoms to show. During his life, Paul, from Port Talbot, recalled being “covered from head to toe” in dust, which was impossible not to inhale.

Paul had three children, six grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Throughout Tegan’s life, and particularly since the loss of Paul’s wife in 2012, they have been very close. She called him ‘Dad’ due to the bond between the two of them.

“My relationship with Dad was so special. He was always there for me whatever I needed, and for my children. When he was fit and well, without fail he would be in my house every night for a cup of tea. I miss him so much, there’s a void in my life and nothing is the same.”

From living an active life, Paul first began experiencing symptoms of mesothelioma in April 2024, when he was admitted to Morriston Hospital with breathlessness and a cough. He was diagnosed with the devastating disease a month later.

After his diagnosis, Paul’s health declined over the following months, and he experienced significant pain and suffering before his death in April 2025.

“His mesothelioma diagnosis turned our whole world upside down and his final few weeks were just absolutely heartbreaking to watch. It was so horrible and cruel to watch someone you love so much go through something like that, and there was nothing I could do to change the outcome,” says Tegan.

“He lost so much weight, he was so unwell all the time and every time he went into hospital, I was so scared. In the end he just couldn’t breathe on his own without oxygen and all the treatment was stopped. We ended up losing him nearly a year after diagnosis, which was so quick.”

What we did

When Paul discovered he had mesothelioma, he turned to industrial disease lawyers at Slater and Gordon to establish where he had contracted the deadly illness. Senior associate, Sarah James, worked closely with Paul to understand his background and identify where he had been exposed to asbestos.

Our strategy

• Working closely with our client and his family, Sarah was able to map out his employment history and identify where his exposure to asbestos occurred.
• Action was taken against three of Paul’s former employers for failing to provide adequate protection against harmful asbestos exposure, ultimately resulting in his mesothelioma diagnosis.
• Using her extensive experience and legal expertise, Sarah was able to secure a financial settlement from each of his past employers, holding them to account and giving Paul and his family the justice they deserve

Results

Through the hard work and dedication of our specialist industrial disease team, a settlement was secured from three of his former employers by senior associate Sarah James.

Sarah, based in Slater and Gordon’s Cardiff office, adds: “Paul’s family have been left devastated by his cruel death, and especially Tegan, who had such a wonderful relationship with her beloved grandfather.

“Too many families are being devastated by the impact of asbestos exposure, and we will fight for justice on their behalf to ensure they get the answers and accountability they need and deserve.”

Hear from Paul's family

“Dad was so grateful to Sarah for getting justice for him, and so am I. She was so professional and kind and would check in on him, I’ll always appreciate how much she cared. I’m grateful from the bottom of my heart,” says Tegan.

“I would absolutely encourage anyone who is in our position to understand their legal rights if they were exposed to asbestos – all employers should be held accountable for the pain, suffering and loss of life that has been caused through people doing their jobs.”