A man who previously saved a police officer’s life before winning £1 million in the EuroMillions lottery has passed away in a suspected hit-and-run incident while riding his bicycle.
Anthony Canty, aged 39, administered CPR to a police officer who suffered a heart attack on a bus in April 2020. Shortly after this heroic act, he became a millionaire with a £1 million EuroMillions win.
Following his fortuitous lottery win, the police officer, who had recovered after spending time in intensive care, mentioned to Anthony that “good karma happens to good people.” However, tragically, six years after his life-changing windfall, Anthony met with a fatal collision on his bicycle in Tiptree, Essex. He was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries four days later.
An 18-year-old man was arrested initially on suspicion of causing serious injury through dangerous driving, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and failing to stop at the scene. The investigation is ongoing with the suspect under scrutiny by the authorities.
Tributes honoring Anthony as a “true gentleman” have flooded social media platforms. Lynne Beckham-Briggs, sister of David Beckham, expressed her sorrow on Facebook, remembering Anthony as a beloved individual who will be deeply missed.
Friends and acquaintances like Gary Hill and Sophie Shane also shared their grief online, reminiscing about Anthony’s kind nature and warm presence in every room. Kirsty Morton expressed her shock at the unfairness of life in response to the tragic news.
Anthony, survived by his wife Katie and two daughters, clinched the £1 million EuroMillions prize on May 5, 2020. Initially believing he had won £100,000, it was Katie who confirmed their newfound millionaire status after checking the numbers.
The couple celebrated with champagne and a symbolic oversized check, with Anthony expressing plans to purchase a new home and treat his daughters to a trip to Disneyland. Despite his windfall, Anthony intended to continue working and was employed at a local building materials supplier at the time of his passing.
Essex Police have urged witnesses to step forward with any information regarding the fatal collision. They specified a particular interest in details or footage involving a black Ford KA observed in the vicinity at the time of the incident on the morning of May 21.
Anyone possessing relevant information, CCTV recordings, dashcam footage, or other evidence related to the incident has been encouraged to contact the authorities, quoting reference number 174 dated May 21.