A mother's final search for answers
When Caroline Bryan was enjoying high school with friends in the early 1990s, she could not have imagined replaying those memories in her final weeks while searching for answers about her terminal condition. The 46-year-old mother died from mesothelioma, an incurable cancer linked to asbestos exposure, as reported by BBC Wales and Yahoo News New Zealand.
Caroline's daughter, Brooklyn, said her mother had no obvious exposure to asbestos in her adult life. "She never had the sort of career that would have exposed her to asbestos," Brooklyn told BBC Wales. "We never lived in any houses that would have had asbestos in." Caroline was mostly a stay-at-home mum, and the family had not heard of mesothelioma before her diagnosis. They quickly learned it likely came from asbestos fibres she unknowingly breathed in many years earlier.
Caroline first sought medical help after noticing shortness of breath. She was told she could have a few years left, but she died three months after diagnosis. Her family's belief, formed as they looked back on her life, was that she encountered asbestos during her time at the old Fitzalan site in Cardiff in the 1990s.
Legal action against Cardiff Council
Caroline's family blames Cardiff Council, the local authority that ran her school, for her death and is taking legal action. A High Court claim is set to be heard in early 2027. Cardiff Council said it would not comment on ongoing legal proceedings but recognised the "devastating impact" of mesothelioma.
The family's legal team uncovered council documents that, they say, show asbestos was used "quite extensively" at the Fitzalan site during Caroline's time there. Phillip Gower from Redkite Solicitors, representing the family, said the buildings were in "pretty poor condition" with damage to walls, floor tiles, and ceiling tiles.
Brooklyn recalled her mother's description of the building: "Mum mentioned that the building wasn't in good condition. Things like ceiling tiles were broken. There was dust and debris when things were disturbed, though at the time she didn't know what it was."
Brooklyn, now 26, said her world "turned upside down" when she learned her mother had incurable cancer. "Losing your mum, who is your main support system, at that age... It was incredibly hard," she said. Before her death, Caroline contacted a solicitor. "She wanted justice - not just for herself, but to stop anyone else going through the same thing," Brooklyn added.
Asbestos in Welsh schools
The case has highlighted the continued presence of asbestos in schools across Wales. A BBC Wales Freedom of Information request found that 76% of primary schools and 81% of secondary schools in Wales contain asbestos-containing materials.
Professor Julian Peto, an epidemiologist, told BBC Wales that the number of mesothelioma cases under age 40 in Britain increased from 2.5 to 5 per year over the last five to six years, and that there was a "significantly increased risk" in female teachers. Richard Green from Hugh James Solicitors said they have seen an increase in younger people under 50 with mesothelioma, including three cases in recent months.
Helen Wilson told BBC Wales that her sister Linda Langhelt, a retired science teacher who worked in Cardiff, was diagnosed with mesothelioma and died 18 months after diagnosis.
The Welsh Government said pupil and staff safety is of "paramount importance" and that it continues to invest in school buildings. Cardiff Council declined to comment on the ongoing legal case.