£500,000 Thunderball Win A Year After Cancer Surgery

A year ago, John Lingard from Great Yarmouth in Norfolk, England had cancer surgery. Fast forward 12 months and he’s just won a £500,000 Thunderball prize in the September 25 draw.

Mr Lingard says that he’s been playing National Lottery games since they began 30 years ago. Even so, the 66-year-old says his big win has “taken a bit getting used to.”

Such a momentous moment seemed a long way away last year. After being diagnosed with cancer, he had surgery to remove a kidney to prevent his cancer spreading.

Thankfully, the operation was a success and the computer maintenance engineer has been given a clean bill of health.

American cancer patient Cheng ‘Charlie’ Saephan from Portland, Oregon shared a $1.3 billion Powerball jackpot  last year.

Total celebration

Speaking about his £500,000 Thunderball win he said it was a case of “total celebration.” Not just for winning so much money “but of life.”

It was the day after the Thunderball draw that he received a congratulatory message. It didn’t tell him how much had been won so he just went to work and “didn’t give it another thought.”

That stayed the situation until the following day when he finally read his  messages. Even then, he thought his win was £500.10. A second glance saw him realise he’d won £10 on one line but the other had landed the £500,000 Thunderball jackpot.

After all his health problems, the lucky winner says he wants to “make the most of every moment.” He plans to go to Tenerife for some winter sun but despite his win, he won’t be retiring.  That’s because he loves his job but might go part-time and have a few more rounds of golf.

Back to the beach

His win was celebrated at a place that is very special to him. He used to go to Gorleston Beach to find “peace” and “process the implications” of his illness. The Thunderball winner says he “couldn’t have dreamt” that a year later he’d be back there celebrating a £500,000 lottery win.

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