Stan Thomas, 71, of Totton, Southampton remembers when he was first told that he was dying of mesothelioma.

"It came as such a shock," he said. "I was all over the place for a fortnight. I couldn't sleep. I thought the worst was going to happen sooner than it has." he added.

That was three years ago. Stan is still suffering from mesothelioma which is an incurable form of cancer. He retired in 2001 and had worked as a heating engineer for 38 years, in the Southampton area. It was during this time that he was exposed to asbestos fibres which caused his mesothelioma.

Stan worked with asbestos on a regular basis, fitting, repairing and removing heating equipment. He distinctly remembers removing a boiler in the 1970s in a closed room, with no windows and with only one door for ventilation. After he smashed asbestos lagging off the piping he recalls he could not see the door for the dust in the room. He knew what he was working with, but like other tradesmen, he did not know that this hazardous substance would end up killing him.

He used asbestos rope, textiles and gaskets frequently and he now fears for the younger tradesmen who might not know anything about this lethal substance. He knows that even the simplest jobs, like removing the moss off an asbestos garage roof, can cause this life threatening form of cancer.

Stan led a fit and healthy lifestyle enjoying coastal walks and he also loved to go fishing. Now due to his breathlessness, he is unable to carry his fishing rods and equipment to the lakes where he used to catch fish.

It was in December 2005 that he suffered chest pains and after seeing his doctor, he was sent for urgent scans and a biopsy. In February 2006 he was diagnosed with mesothelioma, which is the deadliest form of this incurable asbestos-related disease. After the shock of hearing his diagnosis he says he just got on with life and added:

"Most people are given six to twelve months to live. I have made it into my fourth year! I'm like that American film of that man on death row. I am Dead Man Walking!"

His wife, Rita, and his two children do not discuss it very much. But he is an active member of the Hampshire Asbestos Support and Awareness Group and gives support to the other sufferers in the area. Old work colleagues say that they are now aware never to remove asbestos unless they are fully trained.

Stan says that education is the key, and adds:

"It is all about raising awareness that asbestos might be present in any building built or refurbished before the year 2000. Workers need to be aware that it comes in so many different forms and it can be easily missed. In my day we used to remove pipes and asbestos lagging and put it in bags to be binned. Some tradesmen might still be doing the same thing today unless they are aware of the serious health risks and the rules and regulations that are there to protect them from this hidden killer."

Stan has an even stronger message for employers:

"Don't ask or make someone remove asbestos illegally because it might cost your company more money to do it properly. Often workers are relying on the management to be aware of the problems. If the managers can stop someone getting what I have got, it has to be good! No amount of money is worth a human life."

Stan is backing the Health and Safety Executive's Hidden Killer campaign, which aims to raise awareness among tradesmen of the risks posed by asbestos and will target plumbers, electricians, joiners and other general maintenance workers with the hard-hitting fact that every week on average 20 tradesmen die from this hidden killer. Tradesmen need to understand the risks and their rights when working with asbestos, and must take action to protect themselves so they don't end up exposed to asbestos like Stan.

After hearing about the campaign Stan added:

"We need to get the message out to everyone about asbestos, especially to the 16 and 17 year olds. They are the ones that are going to come across it in the coming years. My advice is simple - be very wary and look for asbestos and if you do see it get advice. Simply, don't go near it!"