'I’d trade £19m win to get my health back'

A lottery winner said on Tuesday that he would gladly give up the £19million to get his health back and have the chance to live longer with his wife.

Stephen Smith was 'over the moon' at winning Saturday's jackpot but admittted it was overshadowed by a meddical cond- ition that could kill him at any time.

He has a potentially fatal swelling in his aorta artery which could rupture.

'It's a ticking time bomb inside me. It's my wife, Ida, I worry for. I would give all that back if I could still be with her. There are no shops in the cemetery,' he said.

Mr Smith, 58, bought the ticket ahead of the weekend draw as an afterthought, urged on by his wife because it was a rollover.

But he has refused to get carried away by the win because of his conddition, diagnosed three years ago.

His new-found fortune will make no difference to his chances of survival.

'I can't go private and say, “Fix this for me now, it doesn't matter what it costs”. It has to get to a certain size before they can operate on it,' he said.

Until then, the retired hospital porter, who lives in a one-bedroom council flat, must stay within 30 minutes of a hospital in case he needs emergency surgery.

'When people say heaven and hell, I alwways say we are living in hell. Look what is happening to me. Health-wise it is hell,' admitted the father of two from Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire.

Despite the gloomy outlook, Mr Smith intends to enjoy the win.He plans to buy a four-bedroom bungalow and perhaps swap his mobility scooter for a burgundy Range Rover.

'I am not flash, but I want to buy some nice, quality gear now I can afford it,' he said.

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