Asbestos exposure throughout the career of a retired gas fitter and steel worker was to blame for his death, according to an inquest.
The News and Star reported that Peter William Taylor, 68, from Great Broughton, was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2009.
He died in February 2010, with a post mortem revealing the tumour had "virtually obliterated his right lung".
Before his death, Mr Taylor prepared a full statement which was read out during the inquest, stating that he was involved with the demolition of blast furnaces at Workington steelworks in the 1970s.
"Asbestos was used when they were built. It was in the cement. We broke it up and it would go into a dust, we couldn't avoid breathing it in," he added.
Recording his verdict, north and west Cumbria's coroner David Roberts, said that he was satisfied that Mr Taylor died of industrial disease.