A British man decided to celebrate his lottery win – and almost died from a months-long celebration of life (4 photos)
A forklift driver's obsession with hedonism nearly led him to his death.
A 39-year-old British worker suddenly won one million pounds sterling – a sum more than impressive even for a wealthy Englishman, but to a forklift driver, it seemed like a true miracle. Overjoyed, Adam Lopez did the first thing that came to mind – he threw a truly royal party that lasted for months.
Lopez quit his job and plunged into the simple joys of revelry.
Adam Lopez and his mother celebrate their winnings.
This continued for about three months, until the former hard worker ended up in the hospital. On September 10, the Briton was hospitalized with a diagnosis of bilateral pulmonary embolism.
"I knew it would all end sooner or later, and it almost did in the most horrific way. It was a serious, very serious wake-up call," he told the BBC. Adam explained that after winning the prize, his life became a roller coaster. At first, he worked himself to the bone, then he partied until he dropped. Sure, the money allowed him to experience the life he'd always dreamed of, but Lopez admits he chose the wrong path.
He regrets quitting – having lost his job, he felt like he lost his bearings. After the hospital, he'll need long-term rehabilitation—doctors predict it will take six to nine months. Adam will have time to think about what to do next, because when you're in the ambulance, he says, it doesn't matter how much money you have—the only thing that matters is whether you live or die.