Lottery Winner’s Life Takes Dramatic Turn After Health Crisis

A 39-year-old man from Norwich, Adam Lopez, is currently in a hospital fighting for his life after three months of excessive partying following a significant lottery win. Lopez won £1 million on a scratchcard purchased from a local shop, an event that transformed his bank account from £12.40 to £1,000,012.40. However, his newfound wealth led to a lifestyle that culminated in a medical emergency on September 10.

Lopez, a builder by trade, left his job shortly after his win while he contemplated how best to use his windfall. He described the past three months as an “absolute rollercoaster,” but it all changed dramatically when he was rushed to Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital due to a bilateral pulmonary embolism.

Reflecting on his choices, Lopez remarked, “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.” He acknowledged that while the lottery win allowed him to experience a lifestyle he had never known, he recognized he “went the wrong way about it,” as enjoyment turned into health complications.

Lopez reported that he began experiencing symptoms about three weeks before his hospital admission, which included a blood clot in his leg that ultimately spread to his lungs. After spending eight and a half days in the hospital, he described the ordeal as deeply shocking. “I couldn’t walk, I couldn’t breathe. I rang the ambulance, I got wheeled into the ambulance from my house,” he recounted, emphasizing the gravity of the situation when he heard the sirens.

The experience has led Lopez to reassess his life choices. He expressed gratitude for the medical staff who treated him and noted, “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.” He also lamented leaving his job, feeling that it resulted in a “complete disconnect” from his previous life and daily structure.

Upon discovering his lottery win in July, Lopez returned home to share the news with his mother, Danica, and stepfather, Andrew. He described calling to claim his winnings as “the best call I’ve ever made.” The moment he realized he had won was surreal: “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 £1 million, I didn’t know what to do with myself,” he recalled.

The emotional reaction from his family was overwhelming. “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!” Lopez exclaimed, describing the moment he saw his balance change as a real “pinch me” moment.

Now, as Lopez focuses on recovery, he hopes to regain his health over the next six to nine months. His experience stands as a cautionary tale about the potential consequences of sudden wealth and the importance of maintaining balance in life.