Thousands of engineers feared to have inhaled deadly chemicals while working on Sea King helicopters

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Last night, defence chiefs confirmed they had issued an alert
It was to warn personnel who have maintained the Sea King since in 1969
It was recently flown in a search-and-rescue role by Prince William

By Mark Nicol Defence Editor For The Mail On Sunday

Published: 19:50 EDT, 25 August 2018 | Updated: 04:22 EDT, 26 August 2018

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Thousands of military engineers are feared to have inhaled potentially fatal asbestos chemicals while working on Britain’s Sea King helicopters, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

Last night, defence chiefs confirmed they had issued an alert in a desperate effort to warn Royal Navy and RAF personnel who have maintained the Sea King since it entered service in 1969.

It was recently flown in a search-and-rescue role by Prince William.

Thousands of military engineers are feared to have inhaled potentially fatal asbestos chemicals while working on Britain’s Sea King helicopters, The Mail on Sunday can reveal

In an unprecedented move, the Ministry of Defence has also contacted foreign governments that bought the helicopter and civilian contractors flying ex-British military Sea Kings.

Serving personnel or veterans with health problems caused by exposure to asbestos on Sea Kings will be able to sue the MoD for hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Sea King pilots, such as Prince William and Prince Andrew, who flew it in the Falklands War, are not believed to be at risk.

The alert came in a secret document seen by this newspaper.

Service personnel were told not to share its contents with anyone outside the Armed Forces without authorisation.

It was recently flown in a search-and-rescue role by Prince William

The MoD confirmed it had launched an urgent operation to remove parts containing asbestos from its Sea Kings and military stores.

But the MoS can reveal that defence chiefs pledged in 2003 to make the fleet ‘asbestos-free’ within two years.

Yet this potentially lifesaving work was never completed, putting more military personnel at risk.

Four years ago, Sea King engineer Petty Officer Greg Lukes, of the Royal Australian Navy, died from cancer after being exposed to asbestos fibres.

Sea Kings have been used in Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan.

The MoD said: ‘The safety of our personnel and our partners is always our highest priority. All Sea King items suspected to contain asbestos have been removed from stores.’