All news on this page courtesy of the The Telegraph Newspaper, London, UK


Victim tells of ordeal

27 February 1997

RICHARD Turnbull, an RAF chief electrician, built shelters in the Gulf war. He was exposed to insecticides through using a high volume smoke machine - a "swing fog" - to kill scorpions and other insects in the shelters.

He said yesterday: "I have been diagnosed as suffering from angina, emphysema, asthma and arthritis. I have also been told my life expectancy is reduced." According to Mr Turnbull, the troops were exposed to OP insecticide sprayed from a bowser. His condi

Severe fatigue, mood swings and weakness became daily hazards. His left leg is now so frail, he said, that putting pressure on it was akin to "walking on a piece of string".

On leaving the RAF in 1994 Mr Turnbull set up a business but was forced to abandon it. He said: "I haven't worked since and I've been told that I never will."

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