A story has emerged of a British lottery winner whose life changed overnight with a huge jackpot, only to later regret what he called his biggest mistake: quitting his job.
On October 6 (local time), the BBC reported that Adam Lopez, 39, from Mattishall, Norfolk, purchased a scratch-off lottery ticket at a convenience store last July and won 1 million pounds (approximately 1.9 billion won). At the time of his win, his bank balance was just 12.40 pounds (about 23,000 won).
Lopez, who had been working as a forklift driver, immediately quit his job and began living a lavish lifestyle, enjoying parties and travel. However, his happiness was short-lived. In early September, just three months later, he collapsed and was rushed to the emergency room due to a pulmonary embolism, a condition in which a blood clot blocks a lung artery. He recalled, "When I was loaded into the ambulance and heard the siren, I realized my life had completely changed," after spending more than eight days in the hospital fighting for his life.
Lopez expressed regret about quitting his job after winning the lottery, saying, "When I lost my job, my daily routine disappeared with it." He added, "I felt completely disconnected from the life I used to live. Whether it's a million pounds or a billion, none of it matters when you're being taken away in an ambulance." He continued, "Through this experience, I've realized what I truly value. Once this period passes, I want to return to the person I used to be."
He expressed his gratitude to the medical staff who saved his life and stated that he plans to focus on recovering his health for the next six to nine months.
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