M-ILL-IONAIRE STREET

A hospital porter from Tonypandy found out he’d won the lottery while recovering from a serious illness – in his own hospital.

Barry White, 52, had been rushed for treatment after falling ill with a flare-up of ulcerative colitis, an inflammation of the digestive system.

But he was left stunned when his partner Tracy Minton and the People’s Postcode Lottery team revealed his £333,333 cheque on a WhatsApp video call.

Poorly Barry – speaking from his hospital bed – said: “You can’t beat medicine like that.”

He shared the £1m jackpot with two neighbours in Tonypandy, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, after CF40 2LL was revealed as the winner of Postcode Lottery’s weekly Millionaire Street prize on Saturday, September 23.

But he struggled to take in the whopping windfall.

Barry, who suffered a stroke four years ago and has also undergone heart surgery, said: “Oh my God! Brilliant. I can’t believe it, it’s mad.

“It hasn’t really sunk in. I’m not feeling my best or looking my best.

“I haven’t really thought about what we can do with the money. It’s hard to think straight. I’m up to my eyeballs on strong antibiotics.

“But we’ll sort family and friends out.”

Partner Tracy, 52, broke down in tears and started shaking when she saw the cheque, then – still holding the phone while livestreaming Barry – she blurted out: “Are you serious?”

She had been frantic with worry for Barry after making a dash to the Royal Glamorgan Hospital with him days before.

Tracy, who also works in the hospital as a support worker in the endoscopy department, said: “I took him to the A&E. He was really unwell and not feeling like himself.

“They gave him intravenous steroids and he’s now on antibiotics.

“We had discussed what the amount might be before her went into hospital. But it was nothing like this. This is a life-changing opportunity.”

The divorced mum-of-two, who has been with Barry for five years, added: “This hasn’t sunk in yet for Barry..or me. I might upgrade the car though.”

Two doors down, great grandmother Thelma Lewis revealed details of a pact to split her £333,333 win four ways.

She signed up for People’s Postcode Lottery after her two daughters and one of their sisters-in-law started playing four years ago.

But the group decided they would split the prize if any of them won.

And Thelma, 81, had to be supported by ambassador Matt Johnson after he unveiled the cheque.

The widow said: “I threw the phone to my daughter when the lottery phoned to tell me. I thought it was someone mucking about.

“I had been about to cancel it, too. I won’t be doing that after this.

“I want to help the grandchildren and the great-grandchildren.”

And she laughed: “I might like a holiday, but I haven’t got a man to go with me and I don’t want to go on my own.”

Thelma will share the pot with daughter Kay English, 55, her big sister Helen Williams, 57, and Kay’s sister-in-law Ann Hughes, 71 – each bagging £83,333.

Mum-of-two Kay – who plans to help her family and push on with renovations at her new home – said: “Helen started doing the Postcode Lottery first and I signed up a couple of weeks later. We mentioned it to Ann and she started, then my mum.

“We said if anyone had a small win, they would just keep it. But if it was a big win we’d share it between the four of us. But we never thought we’d have all the threes.

“This is a shock, but it has brought sunshine into our lives.”

She added: “We might all go on a cruise together to celebrate.”

Mum-of-one Helen – who lives in the same street as her mum, but has a different postcode – said: “We’re shocked and overwhelmed.”

Great gran Ann added: “I’ll sort my two boys out and think about holidays.”

Third winner Frederick O’Brien, 72, said he’ll help out his grandchildren and great grandson – with another great grandson on the way.

The retired council housing manager said he might also plan another trip to his favourite holiday spot – Brazil.

Divorced Frederick , a former male voice choir singer, said: “I’m excited, but apprehensive. It still doesn’t feel real yet.

“I like to travel and have been to Brazil twice, I might look at that again. And I might change the car. “

Postcode Lottery ambassador Matt Johnson said: “It was lovely to be back in my native Wales and get the party started in Tonypandy.

“We had three fantastic winners and, of course, the charities that benefit from our players’ commitment every month are winners in this, too.

“The Children’s Leukaemia Society is a nearby charity that’s run by volunteers.

“Since 2022, £50,000 in funding raised by our players has meant children across Wales, who are living with cancer and Leukaemia, have been able to go on respite holidays with their families.”