A SOUTHAMPTON woman died after washing her husband’s asbestos-ridden boiler suits when he worked at docks for over 20 years.

An inquest heard how Maureen Darke, of Springford Road, died at Southampton General Hospital on January 16 when she contracted sepsis after being taken ill with a rare form of cancer.

The 78-year-old retired nurse was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma in July after years spent washing her husband Ken’s clothes when he worked as a purser for Sealink British Ferries in Portsmouth and Weymouth docks.

Dr David Nolan, oncology consultant at Winchester’s Royal Hampshire County Hospital, said: “Because she was very weak, because of the cancer, she didn’t have the reserve to fight the severe infection like that.”

In a statement, Mr Darke said: “The ships were an extremely dusty environment in which to work with no ventilation.”

Senior coroner for South Hampshire Grahame Short recorded a verdict of death due to industrial disease.