Pensioner Wins $1 Million One Day After His Wife Beats Cancer

Well, what a Christmas it's been for Harold McDowell and his family.

On Friday doctors delivered the news that his wife was cancer free following multiple surgeries for liver cancer and hospital stays for colon cancer.

As if that wasn't amazing enough, just one day later he won $1 million (£790,000) at a casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey. We bet he's feeling like the luckiest LAD in the world right now.

Harold, from Lakewood, New Jersey, beat odds of 20 million-to-one during a three-card poker game at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa.

The 85-year-old placed a bet of just $5 (£3.95) and hit a six-card royal straight flush of diamonds. As I'm clearly an avid poker player I know that is a big deal.

According to Sky News, Harold was dealt the 10, queen and ace of diamonds. The dealer's hand was the nine, jack and king of diamonds.

Harold, a retired public works director, but the win down to 'luck of the Irish' and told the New York Post: "I happened to be playing next to my wife. I had my back to her.

"I turned around said: 'I just won a million dollars'. She told me: 'You're full of c**p'."

"I was dumbfounded," he said. "I sat there like an idiot."

And when it came to addressing his wife's health, Harold proved that he's brilliant when he said: "It was better news that she's healthy - money isn't the most important thing."

And just when we thought a guy couldn't get any better, he explained that the money will be going to their kids.

"Our lives will probably stay pretty much the same. But it might get better for our children. Maybe we'll take a cruise." You treat yourselves.

Google Maps

The casino posted a picture of Harold on to their social media and comments came flooding in.

One person who may have been there when he won said: "He deserves it. Someone said it's your lucky day. He said No, Yesterday was my Luckiest day- my wife was declared Cancer Free !!! And he was very generous to the dealers. Classy Guy !!"

Another commented: "Way to go!!!! When it's your time it's your time! Now that's a nice Christmas"

A third added: "Congratulations to him!!!! Thats SO AWESOME....merry Christmas".

Here's to a healthy and happy 2019.

Topics: Awesome, Feels, Casino, Betting, Gambling, Community

Rebecca Shepherd

I'm Becky - a journalist at LADbible. I graduated with a First Class BA in Journalism before going on to cover criminal court cases, medical tribunals and breaking news for the national media - which inevitably and eventually became as glum as it sounds. Can often be found rocking a bag for life - which I made a 'thing' way before Rihanna. You can contact me at [email protected]

@RJShepherd94