A hero Briton has secured a six-figure Postcode Lottery payout - just a day after rushing to attend a late-night fire at a hospital.
NHS maintenance technician Tom Canning became £333,333 richer through the People's Postcode Lottery this weekend after responding to an emergency at Hemel Hempstead Hospital.
Canning, who lives in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, was among three neighbours sharing a £1million prize when postcode WD6 5FF emerged victorious in the weekly Millionaire Street draw.
The on-call technician had spent the early hours of Monday facilitating firefighters' access throughout the hospital complex following a blaze.
By Tuesday, lottery presenter Matt Johnson was delivering life-changing news at his four-storey residential building.
"It's just unbelievable. I'm over the moon," the winner declared.
The father-of-four received an urgent call-out during Sunday night when someone ignited a fire within the hospital premises.
His responsibilities involved managing alarm systems and providing firefighters with access to restricted areas throughout the facility.
PEOPLE'S POSTCODE LOTTERY
| Hero Briton secures six-figure Postcode Lottery payout just one day after helping stamp out hospital fire"I was called out after someone started a fire in the hospital. I had to sort out the alarms and let the fire brigade in everywhere they needed to go. It's been a crazy few days," Canning said.
The electrician-turned-maintenance technician remained on site for several hours, ensuring emergency services could reach all necessary locations before resetting the alarm systems once given clearance.
Despite securing a fortune that exceeds his annual salary multiple times over, the grandfather-of-seven has no intention of quitting his NHS role.
"I've gone past retirement. I could walk in tomorrow and say: 'I don't need to come here anymore'. But I wouldn't do that to them," he said.
His spending priorities include acquiring a pre-owned static caravan in Clacton-on-Sea for his wife Vicky, replacing their living room furniture, and funding driving tuition for his youngest child.
"First thing we'll buy is a static caravan. My wife is desperate to get one," he revealed, adding that European destinations like Spain and Italy also feature in their travel plans.
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The lottery windfall has also delivered benefits to Borehamwood's charitable sector, with local organisation Gratitude securing £30,000 in funding.
The hunger and food waste charity, established in 2013 by Sheila and John Carlisle, began operations from a garden shed before expanding into a comprehensive community support network.
"We offer support to local families on all fronts from food, baby items, school uniforms, disability items, clothes and furniture," trustee Sheila Carlisle explained.
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|The on-call technician had spent the early hours of Monday facilitating firefighters' access throughout the hospital complex following a blaze (file photo)
The organisation rescues food destined for waste, provides free groceries and prepared meals, and coordinates environmental initiatives including community litter collection and planting schemes.