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Did phone masts kill Ena, 87? -
OAP's poisoning fears
by Amy Cartmell
"It get the elderly and the
young"
"FELT UNWELL": Ena Bambrough
Just weeks ago Ena Bambrough told neighbours she was dying after being slowly poisoned by
mobile phone masts on the roof of her tower block. Today, after the 87-year-old died,
neighbours were demanding an urgent inquiry into the safety of the the high-powered
microwave dishes. Ena lived on the top floor of a block of flats in Newcastle and
complained of repeated piercing headaches and bouts of sickness, which she blamed on the
masts.
Close friend Paul Easton said: "She went into decline the day they put the masts on
the roof. Until then she was active and went out every day."
Pensioner dies amid phone mast claims - Resident dead within weeks of complaints about
headaches and illness
A pensioner has died just weeks after claiming she was being poisoned by mobile phone
masts on the roof of the Tyneside tower block where she lived.
Ena Bambrough, 87, was one of several elderly residents who complained of blinding
headaches and severe sickness when phone giant Orange updated its satellite equipment and
installed high powered microwave dishes, radio antennae and equipment boxes. Mrs Bambrough
had lived on the top floor of the Todd's Nook flats, Westgate Road, Newcastle, since they
opened in 1964, but died in the city's Freeman Hospital just 24 hours after she was
admitted. A cause of death has yet to be pinpointed.
Now neighbours and local councillors are demanding an urgent inquiry to decide once and
for all whether or not phone masts are a heath hazard.
Neighbour Paul Easton, 48, said: "I am not a doctor and she was elderly but she went
into decline when they put the masts on the roof. "Until then she was active and
getting out every day, going to social clubs and collecting her pension." Mrs
Bambrough previously told the Chronicle of her fears about the masts. She said:
"During the day I get noises in my ears and headaches. It frightens me. I've got no
strength left. It's just lucky my neighbours are so good about looking out for me. "I
believe I am going to die soon. I am too frightened to go to the toilet because, when I
sit down, I can't get up again. And when I go to bed, I can't get up."
Mr Easton has already written to Newcastle City Council on behalf of all the residents
living on the top three floors. He said: "I am still getting headaches but, at least,
I go out to work. A lot of the pensioners are living under these masts 24 hours a day. We
want to see the masts taken off the roofs but there seems to be a wall of silence from the
council and Orange."
Coun Nick Forbes, who represents the Todd's Nook residents, said: "I am shocked by
Ena's death because she was very alert. I will be asking some very hard questions about
whether the equipment had any part to play in her death. "Until we have more research
on the effects of the base equipment on people's health, then planning permission should
be delayed." There are growing fears about the effect of mobile phone equipment on
public health.
This week it was revealed phone giant Vodafone was facing a billion-dollar legal action by
US brain tumour victims seeking compensation for the pain suffered and income lost as a
result of the disease.
Scientists are still continuing research into potential links between radio waves and
diseases such as cancer and the Government-commissioned Stewart Report advised caution
into the siting of mobile phone masts.
In Newcastle, there is mobile phone equipment on the roofs of 11 residential blocks of
flats. A Newcastle City Council spokesman has said existing law allows them very little
leeway to turn down applications by mobile phone companies because the emissions from the
equipment falls within European standards.
Fears over the risk to public health prompted Sunderland City Council to ask mobile
telephone companies to stop applying for masts and Gateshead Council has rejected some
applications.
Orange was unavailable for comment but bosses have always said research shows there is no
evidence there are health risks.
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