A 67-year-old woman in England died in August 2025 after a battle with an aggressive cancer, and recent findings suggest the illness may have been linked to asbestos exposure during her childhood. The case highlights the lasting health risks associated with asbestos, even from exposures decades earlier.
Elaine Ellery’s cancer was traced back to repeated contact with asbestos fibers, potentially stemming from hugging her father after his perform shifts. He worked in a factory where asbestos was present, and unknowingly carried the dangerous fibers home on his clothing.
Repeated Asbestos Exposure Confirmed
An inquest in February 2026 concluded that Ellery suffered from mesothelioma, a cancer directly linked to asbestos exposure, People reported. The court determined her illness was a result of repeated exposure to asbestos fibers during her childhood.
According to Meduni Wien, mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer affecting the mesothelium, a protective lining around internal organs like the lungs, abdomen, and heart. This type of cancer is strongly associated with asbestos exposure.
Childhood Hugs Linked to Exposure
Ellery had no further contact with asbestos in her adult life. Before her death, she recalled fondly greeting her father when he returned home from work, saying, “I stood very close to my father, and as soon as he came home, I would move to him and umarmte ihn [hug him]. […] I was very young and it was exciting when my father came home.”
Factory Dust Resembled Snow
Ellery’s father worked at a factory from 1949 to 1974, and she regularly visited the site, particularly during Christmas celebrations. She remembered a substance on the factory floor that looked like snow. “It wasn’t snow, but it looked similar, and in hindsight, I believe it was asbestos from the factory operations,” Ellery stated.
She believes she inhaled asbestos fibers from her father’s work clothes when she hugged him after he returned home.
Father Also Died from Asbestos-Related Illness
According to a report by the Daily Mail, Ellery’s father’s death in 1983 at age 59 was also attributed to an asbestos-related disease. He was diagnosed with cancer a year prior.
