A British mother died of cancer after allegedly being exposed to asbestos from her late husband's work clothes over 30 years ago, her family has claimed. Veronica Kidman, 72, was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a terminal cancer linked to asbestos exposure, in January and passed away just one week later.
Her family believes that Kidman contracted the illness from hand-washing the dusty overalls of her husband, Ian, who worked as a BT field engineer between 1971 and 1989. According to her daughter, Becky Irwing, Veronica recalled Ian regularly returning home covered in a significant amount of dust on his clothes and hair. She would wash his work clothes several times a week, often having to scrub them multiple times due to the heavy dust and dirt.
Ian Kidman's work involved fixing telephone and switchboard faults at various homes, businesses, and BT repair centers. His family suspects he may have encountered asbestos-lagged pipes or harmful asbestos resin during these site visits while installing phone lines. These fibers, they contend, could have been brought home and led to Veronica's fatal illness decades later.
Veronica and Ian Kidman married in November 1977 and initially lived in Epping, Essex. They later moved to Mildenhall, Suffolk, where Ian died suddenly in July 2014 from a brain hemorrhage. Veronica relocated to Wymondham, Norfolk, in 2017.
Before her diagnosis, Veronica experienced symptoms for approximately two years, including abdominal and lower back pain, bloating, and fatigue. She sought medical attention multiple times in late 2025. A CT scan in December 2025 revealed a mass on her abdomen, and a biopsy confirmed mesothelioma on January 8. She passed away on January 15.
Veronica's children, Becky Irwing and Gareth Kidman, are appealing for anyone who worked with their father, particularly at the Chingford, Leytonstone, Mile End, or Walthamstow telephone exchanges in East London, to come forward with any information about asbestos exposure during that period. Natalia Rushworth-White, a lawyer representing the family, highlighted that while asbestos is often associated with heavy industry, its use was widespread, and secondary exposure, such as through washing contaminated clothing, is increasingly recognized.
"Veronica's death is another tragic reminder of the terrible legacy asbestos has created," Rushworth-White stated. "Even though Ian's work took place in the 1970s, the risks of asbestos were still well-known and employers had a duty to ensure the safety of their employees."
BT Group stated: "We are very sorry to hear about the passing of Mrs Kidman. We have not received any legal claim from Mrs Kidman's family, so it would not be appropriate for us to comment further."