The son of a former carpenter who died from the industrial disease mesothelioma has joined forces with a national helpline to urge sufferers to check their work history.

Phil Shepherd vowed after an inquest into his father’s death to help raise awareness of the dangers of asbestos.

Brian Shepherd, 79, died from multiple organ failure as a result of malignant mesothelioma less than a week after being given the all-clear by doctors.

His family would never have known to check Brian’s work history for potential asbestos exposure until his wife Eileen, 80, saw an article in their GP’s surgery about its widespread use and deadly effect.

Speaking after the inquest at Gravesend’s Old Town Hall, Mr Shepherd said more needed to be done to ensure medical tests and scans were as thorough as possible.

Two years on, he has joined forces with the National Asbestos Helpline to ask health professionals and lung cancer sufferers to check whether asbestos exposure could be the cause of the disease.

Mr Shepherd, 57, of Nursery Grove, Gravesend, said: “We’re seeing just the tip of the iceberg.

"Thousands of people are dying from asbestos exposure and they don’t even know because it’s assumed other factors, like smoking, have caused their lung cancer.

“Dad was a carpenter and loved his job. He used to come home covered in dust head-to-toe but no one knew. The deterioration in him in his last few months was devastating.

“Asbestos kills good, hardworking people. It’s a nasty, nasty disease and it’s very hard to come to terms with. We miss and adore him so much.”

Mr Shepherd Snr, who also lived in Nursery Grove, was exposed to asbestos whilst employed by two ceiling fitters.

From the 1960s through to the 1980s ceiling tiles were made using asbestos because of its fire resistant and insulating properties.

As he worked, the tiles would have been cut to fit and the deadly asbestos dust released into the air he was breathing.

The grandfather, who was known as Bing, was still working in his 70s but underwent a biopsy in June 2012 after his health deteriorated.

A month later he was told by doctors at Guy’s Hospital in London it had not revealed any signs of cancer in his lungs.

However, six days later the grandfather died at Darent Valley Hospital after being admitted with breathing difficulties.

Speaking after his father’s inquest in October 2012, Mr Shepherd said he hoped that by helping to raise awareness of the dangers of asbestos, other cases of mesothelioma would be diagnosed as quickly as possible.

He said: “I know there’s nothing I can do for my dad and I don’t want special treatment.

"But if we can help even just one other person to overcome this or make people aware, then that’s what my dad would have wanted.”