Killed by a hug from her father: Mother-of-three who contracted cancer from ship worker's asbestos-covered overalls as a child dies aged 53

A mother-of-three who contracted cancer after enjoying childhood cuddles with her father in his asbestos-covered overalls has died.

Debbie Brewer, 53, spent seven years battling mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the lining of the lung and just a few years ago had hoped she had beaten the illness.

She was infected by the disease as a child after welcoming her father Phillip Northmore home after he finished work as an asbestos lagger.

He worked at the Royal Navy’s Devonport dockyard in Plymouth where his job involved scraping asbestos from pipes.

Debbie Brewer, who raised awareness about cancer caused by asbestos has died from the disease, after contracting it as a child from her father

It is believed she had been infected by the disease as a child regularly cuddling her dad Phillip Northmore after he returned home from work as an asbestos lagger

Each day he went home covered in the deadly dust where a young Debbie greeted him between the age of three and six.

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Mr Northmore died from asbestos-related lung cancer at the age of 68 in 2006 - the same year that Ms Brewer was diagnosed with the long-dormant mesothelioma.

The following year she was awarded six-figure compensation by the Ministry of Defence who owned the dockyard when her father worked there and admitted liability.

The close family are pictured here in 1963 - at the time Mr Northmore worked as an asbestos lagger in Devonport Dockyard. From left Wendy, three, Jacquie six months, Phillip, and Debbie aged four

Mr Northmore (pictured here with his daughter on her wedding day) died three months before she was diagnosed in 2006. She was told at that time that she had only months to live

Despite her illness Ms Brewer tirelessly campaigned to raise awareness of lung cancer by asbestos.

She died at St Luke’s Hospice in Plymouth where just days ago she said she regarded her admission as ‘a blip’.

Her ex-husband, David Brewer said: 'Debbie was so very dedicated to making people aware of asbestos and how dangerous it is.

'She gave all of her time and was so well-known for that. She carried on blogging even when she was at St Luke’s.'

Mesothelioma can lie dormant for up to 40 years and it finally emerges it is usually fatal within about two years.

Ms Brewer launched a website to offer support to other sufferers and underwent experimental treatment in Frankfurt paid for with her compensation.

She leaves three children - Siobhan, Richard, and Kieran.