David Cawser left school at the age of 15 in 1963 and began work for a small building company based in Burton upon Trent. He was employed as an apprentice plumber which he successfully completed. In August 1968 he began work for KL George & Co Limited which was a plumbing and heating contractor. The company worked on commercial and domestic plumbing and heating contracts within a wide radius of Burton upon Trent. During his employment he was regularly exposed to asbestos in various ways including working in the vicinity of laggers who were spraying asbestos; using asbestos caulking rope; cutting and installing domestic flues; sawing holes in ceilings made of Artex and working in boiler rooms lagged with asbestos. 

In September 2019 David noticed that the quality of his voice was degrading. He began to suffer chest pain and in January 2020 attended his GP. He was urgently referred to hospital for investigation of suspected upper gastrointestinal malignancy.  This was followed by a gastroscopy which did not reveal any malignancy. In June 2020 David suffered from a cough. Whilst lying in bed there was an advert on TV saying ‘if you have a cough for more than 6 weeks contact your GP’ and so he telephoned his GP who arranged an appointment at the hospital for an X ray. A CT scan revealed a moderately large pleural effusion. Further investigation ensued in the form of a biopsy and on 24 July 2020 David was given the news that he was suffering from Sarcomatoid mesothelioma. This is usually a very aggressive form of mesothelioma. 

David settled his case in September 2022, whilst he was receiving immunotherapy treatment on the NHS. He preserved the right to claim the cost of private mesothelioma related medical treatment in future, should this be required. David’s treatment on the NHS ceased due to an adverse reaction to the immunotherapy. He has since received chemotherapy treatment and has very recently undergone stereotactic radiotherapy treatment in Oxford, which David says has made him feel different inside and much more like his old self before his diagnosis. All his private treatment has been paid for by KL George & Co’s employment liability insurers.