Norfolk forklift driver wins £1m, quits job, ends up in hospital

When Adam Lopez, a 39‑year‑old forklift driver from Mattishall, discovered a sudden surge in his bank balance, the UK was reminded how fast fortune can flip a life upside‑down.

The boost came from the UK National Lottery – a £5 scratch‑off ticket bought at a corner shop near Norwich turned his account from a modest £12.40 to £1,000,012.40 in July 2023. The figure translates to roughly $1,340,017, enough to buy a house, a handful of cars, or, as Lopez soon learned, a ticket to a very different kind of party.

From Forklift to Flashy Rides

Lopez’s first instinct was to celebrate. He quit his job the same day, telling friends he needed "well‑deserved fun" after decades of early‑morning shifts. Within weeks he ordered two Range Rovers – one for himself and one for his mother – and booked a family vacation to Barbados. The trip, complete with sun‑soaked beaches and all‑inclusive meals, was billed as a thank‑you to his loved ones.

"When I saw the million pounds, I didn’t know what to do, so I just put the scratch card in the glove compartment without thinking," Lopez recalled to AS English. "Not even in my wildest dreams did I imagine this would happen to me. I feel so blessed."

Turning the Party Up… Too High

But the celebrations didn’t stop at the airport. Within days, Lopez’s social calendar was packed with night outs, bottle‑service clubs, and a steady stream of friends eager to share in his windfall. The partying became a daily routine – a blur of music, drinks, and luxury that left little room for the routine structure his previous job had provided.

It was only after a few months of relentless nights that his body issued a loud warning. An emergency admission to a Norfolk hospital in December 2023 cited severe dehydration, extreme fatigue, and a bleed that required a short stay in intensive care. "It was a wake‑up call," he told 97X.com, his voice hoarse from the ordeal. "I left my job and I never should have done that. I lost the structure that kept me grounded."

When Money Becomes a Curse

Lopez’s story is far from an isolated case. In the early 2000s, Michael Carroll, a 19‑year‑old garbage collector from Norfolk, won £9.7 million in the same lottery. Nicknamed the "Lotto Lout," Carroll splurged on parties, a mansion, and a fleet of cars, only to declare bankruptcy by 2010 and return to manual labor.

Across the Atlantic, David Lee Edwards walked away from a $21 million Powerball jackpot in 2001 with a handful of cash, a habit of drug use, and a series of costly parties that drained his fortune in five years. He died in poverty, a stark reminder that cash alone doesn’t guarantee security.

Canadian winner Gerald Muswagon and New York’s Curtis Sharp faced similar downfalls, each trading millions for nights that ended in financial ruin.

• Michael Carroll: £9.7 million (2002) – bankrupt by 2010.
• David Lee Edwards: $21 million (2001) – depleted within five years.
• Gerald Muswagon: C$10 million (2011) – lost wealth, died in hardship.
• Curtis Sharp: $5 million (1980s) – finances vanished after divorces and alcoholism.

These patterns have drawn the attention of financial psychologists who warn that sudden wealth can trigger a “boom‑bust” cycle when there’s no financial literacy or support system in place.

What Experts Say About Sudden Wealth

Professor Laura Whitaker of the University of Manchester’s Psychology Department notes, "The brain’s reward system lights up with a massive influx of money, but without a pre‑existing framework for managing that reward, people often chase the high through external stimuli – parties, cars, status symbols. The result is a rapid depletion of both money and health."

Whitaker adds that structured budgeting, professional financial advice, and retaining some form of daily routine can mitigate the risk. "A job provides more than income; it offers social contact, purpose, and a schedule. Stripping that away can leave a gaping void, which many try to fill with excess."

What’s Next for Adam Lopez?

As of early 2024, Lopez remains under medical observation, with doctors emphasizing the need for lifestyle changes before he fully recovers. He has hinted at seeking financial counseling, though he has not disclosed whether any of his winnings are still intact.

"I’m learning the hard way that money can’t replace health," he said in a recent interview. "I hope my story helps others think twice before throwing the rule book out the window."

Local councilor Helen Marsh from Breckland has pledged to work with community groups to offer financial‑wellness workshops, aiming to prevent other residents from walking a similar road.