I’d return £19m jackpot if I could have my health back

But Steve Smith – who scooped Saturday’s triple rollover lottery jackpot – admitted yesterday that the cash will make little difference to his future.[>

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For the 58-year-old retired hospital porter suffers from a rare medical condition that could kill him at any time.[>

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Steve, who shares a one-bedroom council flat in Hemel Hempstead, Herts, with his wife Ida, said he would gladly return all the money if he could have his health back and enjoy a few more precious years with his family.[>

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He suffers from an aortic aneurysm that could burst at any moment, leaving him with just a one in 10 chance of survival.[>

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Steve has to remain within 30 minutes reach of a hospital at all times and cannot even go on holiday.[>

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Sobbing with emotion as he spoke of his £18,992,109 win, Steve said he felt lucky it had happened but added that his health problems have turned his existence into a living hell.[>

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He said: “If this goes – it can burst at any time – I have a one in 10 chance of living. It’s a ticking timebomb. It’s Ida I worry for, it’s leaving her behind. I would give all that back if I am allowed to still be with her because there are no shops in the cemetery, are there?[>

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“I can’t spend any of it there. I want to spend it with her. I want to spend my life with her, I want to see my grandchildren spend their pensions.[>

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“The youngest one is six years old. That’s how long I want to live. I want to see them get married and go down the aisle and all that business.” [>

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Steve’s condition means that paying for private health care would not make any difference because doctors must wait for the aneurysm to be a certain size before they can operate.[>

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Steve, a former bingo caller, said: “When people say heaven and hell, I always say we are living hell. Life is hell, look what is happening to me. Health-wise it is hell.”[>

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The father-of-two suffered from a series of health problems, including arthritis and back trouble, before the aneurysm was diagnosed.[>

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In 1994 he was forced to take early retirement from his job as a porter at a local hospital. He met Ida, 68, in 1980, while they were both working at the hospital. Steve said it was love at first sight.[>

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While they did not have any children together, they have four between them from previous relationships and now dote on their six grandchildren.[>

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They have always lived in council accommodation, so were never able to have their whole family round on special occasions. Now they are planning to buy a four-bedroom bungalow.[>

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Steve said: “We have always had a small home. I want a four-bedroom bungalow – it has to be a bungalow because I can’t do stairs.”[>

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He also plans to swap his “motability” car for a Range Rover, the vehicle he has always dreamed of.[>

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But his win will not change him as a person – “I am the same old Steve, the rough old diamond,” he said.[>

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Steve almost missed out on Saturday when he forgot to buy extra lucky dip tickets as Ida had asked. [>

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He said: “Luckily I saw a shop so we stopped off and bought three lucky dip tickets – and it was one of those that hit the jackpot.”[>