John Lingard, 66, was diagnosed with kidney cancer after falling ill on a flight back from Tenerife - but is now planning a return to the Canary Islands(Image: PA)

Cancer survivor bags £500k Lotto win - 12 months after life-saving surgery

John Lingard has spoken of an astonishing 12 months in which he was given the all-clear after being diagnosed with cancer before he scooped a £500,000 National Lottery win

22 Oct 2024, 11:12 by Dan Warburton · The Mirror

A cancer survivor has scooped a £500,000 Lotto win - exactly 12 months to the day after undergoing life-saving surgery.

John Lingard, 66, had a kidney removed to stop the spread of the disease after he fell ill on a flight returning from Tenerife last year. Now - after being given a clean bill of health - he is planning a trip back to the Canary Islands after bagging the Thunderball win.

The computer maintenance engineer, from Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, says the windfall means he can take his first week of unpaid leave since he started work aged 16. He said: “I visit Tenerife three or four times a year but when I left in September, I told friends I probably couldn’t make it back before early 2025.

"Now thanks to my Thunderball luck, I can afford to take a week off – unpaid – and head back for a little winter sun, and to celebrate with my friends over there. I may also do a little house-hunting while I’m on the island. It would be nice to have a bolt-hole for the future, and it will also be a way to share my good fortune with those closest to me who will be able to use it for their holidays too.”

Engineer John, from Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, had a kidney removed and has now been given the all clear( Image: PA)

Recognising his amazing turn of fortune in the last 12 months, John chose to celebrate his £500,000 win with friends on the beach at Gorleston. He said: “When I was first diagnosed I would head to Gorleston beach to find some peace and process the implications of my treatment. It’s crazy to think that at the start of the year I would come to the beach to find inner peace in all the turmoil of the treatment and my worries about the future. I couldn’t have dreamt that less than 12 months later I would be here celebrating a National Lottery win.”

John played a Lucky Dip via The National Lottery app. His winning Thunderball numbers on Wednesday 25 September were; 13, 15, 18, 30, 33 and the Thunderball was 7. He told how he logged on early the morning after the draw to see an automatic message congratulating him on a win. However, seeing no increase in his available funds, John put it out of his mind.

John toasted his huge windfall on Gorleston beach - a spot where he had come to find peace during his cancer battle( Image: PA)

He said: “I assumed there must be a lag or something on the system, so went to work and didn’t give it another thought. Even when I logged on later that day to buy my EuroMillions ticket I didn’t look more deeply into the message that popped up congratulating me on a win.

"It was only 24 hours later that I finally read my messages and the penny started to drop, although not fully, because at first glance I thought it was £500.10. I was just on my way out the door heading to the supermarket, but when I worked out that it was actually £500,000 plus £10 on another line, I decided driving wasn’t a good idea so walked to the local shop.

"I think I actually floated there, I certainly felt like I was on Cloud Nine
“I started playing when The National Lottery first began 30 years ago and, while all along I’ve believed that one day I would win big, now it’s happened, it’s taken a bit of getting used to.”

But John, who enjoys an occasional round of golf, has no plans to retire any time soon. He said: “I’ve always been in work and while I enjoy spending time with friends, and I’m partial to a round of golf, I’ll keep working, albeit part-time, for a while yet. And having been through such a challenging time with my cancer diagnosis and treatment, I want to be sure I make the most of every moment, whether that’s work, rest or play.”