A PENSIONER who spent his life working in dangerous coal mines died from an industrial disease, an inquest heard.
Norman Markham, 79, died at his home in Richmond Avenue, Fartown, on December 6.
A post-mortem showed he died from respiratory failure as a result of chronic pulmonary thrombosis.
The Huddersfield hearing heard Mr Markham was born in Sunderland and left school at 14 to work in coal mines.
He moved to Huddersfield in his early 20s and continued to work in collieries, including Clayton West and Emley.
The inquest heard the widower managed to get out alive when many accidents occurred in the mines and in one incident broke his ribs but continued to work.
Mr Markham was constantly exposed to coal dust and believed his difficulty breathing and walking was caused by his time working in collieries.
After retiring, Mr Markham received payment for deafness caused by his work and began a claim when he was diagnosed with the disease two years ago.
Coroner Roger Whittaker said: “There is a clear connection between his work history and the medical cause of his death.”
He recorded that Mr Markham died from an industrial disease.
