Adam Lopez, who quit his job as a builder after winning £1million in July, said he ended up in hospital last month after going through an ‘absolute rollercoaster’ for three months
A 39-year-old who scooped £1million after buying a winning scratchcard from a corner shop was left fighting for life in hospital after “three months of partying” and “burning the candle at both ends.”
Builder Adam Lopez said his balance increased “from £12.40 to £1,000,012.40” after his massive win three months ago – but last month, he was hospitalised with a bilateral pulmonary embolism. The lottery winner, from Norwich, had decided to quit his job while figuring out what to do with his winnings – and since July, he admitted his life had been an “absolute rollercoaster” which consisted of partying excessively.
But it all came crashing down on September 10, when he had to be rushed to Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital by ambulance. He said: “I knew what I was doing was going to come to an end eventually, and it nearly came to an end in the worst possible way. It was a massive, massive wake-up call.”
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Adam said the lottery win allowed him “to live a bit of a life I’ve never lived,” but added he “went the wrong way about it” because it was only enjoyable until he started having health issues. He told the BBC: “It became apparent about three weeks ago… with a blood clot in my leg which spread to my lungs.”
After spending eight and a half days in hospital, Adam said the experience was a shock for him. He said: “I couldn’t walk, I couldn’t breathe. I rang the ambulance, I got wheeled into the ambulance from my house and the biggest life-changing thing I had, was laying in the back of that ambulance and hearing the sirens.”
Following “such a hard time”, he thanked the healthcare workers who saved his life and reflected: “It just makes you look at both sides of life because it doesn’t matter if you have a million, 100 million, a billion, a trillion – when you’re in the back of the ambulance, none of it matters.”
Adam also said he regrets quitting his job because he felt like he no longer had a routine – and it was “a complete disconnect” from the life he was used to. He said he will now focus on recovery with the hope he will get better in the next six to nine months.
After finding out about his huge win in July, Adam said he travelled home to the house he shares with his mum, Danica, and stepdad, Andrew, to reveal the news of his winnings. He said the call to claim his prize was “the best call I’’ve ever made.” Discussing the life-changing moment he realised he had won, Adam said: “I stopped to pick up a drink and bought a scratchcard at the same time.
“Once in the car I played the scratchcard and when I saw the £1million, I didn’t know what to do with myself, so shoved the scratchcard in the glovebox without even thinking. I always thought I’d scream if I ever won big but when it actually happened, I was stunned into complete silence!”
The builder shared how his family reacted, saying: “It was the most surreal moment when the lady from the National Lottery confirmed that I was a millionaire! My mum went off like a balloon she was so excited for me! Seeing my balance go from £12.40 to £1,000,012.40 was a real ‘pinch me’ moment!”