A SOUTHAMPTON man died from asbestos exposure after years spent fixing fridges.

David Ross, of Shamblehurst Lane, died as a result of malignant mesothelioma after working as a fridge service engineer across the country, an inquest heard.

The 59-year-old died at Southampton General Hospital on October 25.

Coroner Grahame Short recorded a verdict of death due to industrial disease.

“This case is involving a man who didn’t work directly with asbestos but who worked in proximity to asbestos with lagging pipes,” he said.

“I think that, on the balance of probabilities, and in light of the considerable degree of causation between mesothelioma and asbestos exposure, this has been clearly demonstrated and taken with the occupational history, this was a case of mesothelioma.”