Winning the lottery is the dream, but for one British man, it almost became a nightmare. Adam Lopez, 39, from Norfolk, England, struck it rich with a $1.3 million (£1 million) National Lottery win. Ecstatic, he quit his forklift driver job immediately and dove headfirst into nonstop celebrations.
Neighbors recalled weeks of relentless partying, champagne flowing, takeout piling up, and energy drinks keeping him going “like he was running a marathon no one asked for.” The good times, however, came with a shocking twist.
Lopez suddenly fell seriously ill and was rushed to Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital. Doctors diagnosed him with a bilateral pulmonary embolism—a dangerous condition where blood clots block the lungs. He spent over eight days under close medical care, but even then, nurses noted his spirits remained surprisingly high. “It was all worth it,” he joked, though he later admitted it was a “massive wake-up call.”
Friends say Lopez is already planning a small “recovery party” to celebrate his second chance at life. One remarked, “The doctor told him to celebrate surviving—it seems he’s taking that very literally.”
Medical experts have highlighted Lopez’s story as a cautionary tale: sudden wealth can spiral out of control if not handled responsibly. What started as a dream almost turned tragic, proving that even a million-dollar jackpot can’t buy good health.
Lopez’s journey is a stark reminder that joy—and champagne—are best enjoyed in moderation, no matter how big the win.
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