Family of 'fit and healthy' father-of-four, 67, who died of asbestos cancer from school jobs wins £1million compensation after court battle with council

Published: 02:22, 26 April 2026 | Updated: 02:28, 26 April 2026 The family of a 'fit and healthy' father-of-four who died of asbestos-related cancer after working at a school has won £1million in compensation.  Rick Oakes, 67, from York, was diagnosed with mesothelioma in February 2022 and sadly passed away around two years later, on July 4, 2024.  The rare disease, which affects the lining of the organs and is caused by exposure to asbestos, can take years to develop after contact with the toxic building material.  Mr Oakes had encountered the harmful fibres decades prior to his diagnosis, when he was working as a joiner in schools across Kirklees, West Yorkshire.   An inquest ruled he died of an industrial disease, with Kirklees Council, which had been his employer, admitting it failed to protect him from exposure. His widow Rachel, 51, said: 'Before his diagnosis, Rick was fit and healthy and loved playing golf and going on holiday with our family. 'It was incredibly upsetting for him when he was suddenly no longer able to do the things he enjoyed. 'Watching Rick suffer, knowing there was nothing we could do, was awful. Rick Oakes (centre, with his wife Rachel, left, and daughter Ashleigh, right), 67, from York, was diagnosed with mesothelioma in February 2022 and sadly passed away around two years later, on July 4, 2024 'We miss him every day, and while nothing will ever change what happened, we felt we had to continue the journey he started and get him the answers he deserved.' Mr Oakes began feeling breathless in November 2021 and received his terminal diagnosis just three months later.  He initially underwent chemotherapy on the NHS before accessing private immunotherapy in 2023 - but his condition continued to deteriorate. The father had already started a legal battle against Kirklees Council over his illness, which his family continued after his death. Lawyers acting on their behalf argued the local authority failed to protect him as its employee. The case was escalated to the High Court where the council accepted a breach of duty - and the family has now received compensation. Mrs Oakes said her husband had been determined to raise awareness of the dangers of asbestos: 'Rick felt strongly that people should be aware of what asbestos can do. 'He knew many believe it to be a historical issue, but asbestos is still present in a large number of buildings today, posing a risk if disturbed. 'All we can hope for now is that by sharing Rick's story, we can help raise public awareness and prevent future generations from losing loved ones to asbestos cancer.' After his diagnosis, the family was supported by charities including Mesothelioma UK and the Yorkshire and Humberside Asbestos Support Group. Last year, Mrs Oakes organised a charity garden party in York attended by 200 people.  The gathering raised than £20,000 for organisations supporting those with terminal and asbestos-related illnesses. A spokesperson for the family's legal team at Irwin Mitchell said the case was a reminder of the 'terrible legacy' asbestos continues to have in public buildings. Partner and solicitor Nicola Handley said: 'The last few years have been incredibly difficult for Rick's loved ones, who've understandably struggled firstly with his diagnosis of mesothelioma and then sadly having to come to terms with his death. 'While nothing can ever make up for what's happened, we're pleased to have secured the answers the family deserve. 'We hope the settlement brings some form of closure to Rachel and the rest of Rick's loved ones after what has been an incredibly distressing period.' Kirklees Council has said it takes health and safety 'extremely seriously', the BBC reports.  'Our practices have changed significantly as working practices have evolved,' the local authority.  Officials said they now adhere to 'the highest modern standards of safety in managing and monitoring asbestos in our buildings as part of a robust asbestos management plan'.  Kirklees Council has been contacted for comment.   The comments below have not been moderated. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? 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