A retired British grandad who nearly died twice in the past 16 months recently won a £66,000 (USD$83,000) share of a £1 million (USD$794,000) jackpot on the country’s Postcode Lottery.
Tommy Gilmour, 71, of Balloch, Scotland, scooped the tidy sum after surviving a medically induced coma in October 2023 and then being hit by a bus less than a year after. The retired National Park ranger spoke to interviewers, sharing the jackpot with 14 neighbors that share his postcode.
“Now this has happened. Wow! Go on, ya dancer. I can’t believe it,” Gilmour said, speaking to the Postcode Lottery, his arm still in a sling after the bus accident.
“This is tremendous. We weren’t expecting that amount of money. And it’s nice to win with so many others in the street.”
The Injuries
Gilmour, who has three kids and five grandkids with his wife, Maureen, explained to Postcode Lottery officials just how fortunate he felt after the win.
Not only has he now bagged a lottery jackpot, but he’d also survived two near-deadly accidents in the prior 16 months.
In October 2023, a minor hospital operation went wrong and Gilmour was placed in a medically-induced coma. When he awoke, his family were all gathered by his hospital bed having feared the worst.
“They spent three hours reviving me and then put me into an induced coma for ten hours. When I woke up, all the family were there, and I said, ‘What are you guys all doing here?’ ”
Then, just over a year after recovering from that ordeal, last December he was hit by a bus while crossing the street in his hometown. The severe hit left the bus window broken and Gilmour with a broken knee and a completely shattered left wrist. Immediate surgery was required to save his arm, which included putting in a metal plate.
“The only thing that saved my hand from coming off was the watch my son gave me for my 60th birthday. They say it will take at least six months to heal,” he said.
“No one could believe that I walked away from it.”
The Big Win
Three months after walking away from being hit by a bus, Gilmour has now won £66,000.
“I’ve also broken my back and wrist playing rugby. Hopefully now, this is the start of something good,” he said.
The couple is planning to spend their winnings on a new car for the two of them and a holiday for the family. Gilmour has his eye on a BMW M Sport model.
He jokingly added that his wife has also already placed a bulk order for bubble wrap from Amazon.
The UK’s Postcode Lottery gives out a £1 million prize to a random UK postcode (or ZIP code, to Americans) every month, shared equally between any residents in the lucky area that are signed up.
In mid-2024, one couple scooped a £200,000 ($159,000) prize, splitting £1 million between five neighbors, weeks after the husband had told his wife to cancel their subscription to the game.
David is an online casino expert who specializes in online slots and boasts over 10 years experience writing about iGaming. He has written for a wide range of notable publications, including eSports Insider and WordPlay Magazine.
David graduated Derby University with a BA Degree in English Literature and Creative Writing.
