A firefighter who developed occupational asthma as a result of exposure to red diesel fumes has won £15,000 in damages.

Leigh Payne, 40, has worked at Exeter airport for 13 years and was exposed to the dangerous fumes while removing post and baggage from the cargo holds of aircraft. Diesel exhaust was emitted from the engines of various vehicles, including the tugs and power units used by baggage handlers.

Mr Payne’s work often involved spending more than two hours at a time in the cargo holds of planes, where the fumes would collect as there was no filtration system in place.

In 2007, he began to suffer from health problems, including breathing difficulties. His condition deteriorated over the next three years and he was forced to take time off work. Eventually, Mr Payne was diagnosed with occupational asthma, which doctors attributed to exposure to red diesel fumes.

Mr Payne is still employed by the airport but is limited as to the sort of work he can perform. He brought a personal injury claim against his employer, which originally refused to accept liability for his illness. However, in view of the medical evidence available in support of his claim, it was subsequently settled out of court.