The life of 73-year-old Antônio Lopes Siqueira took a drastic turn on Nov. 9, when he won 201 million reais ($33 million) in the Mega-Sena lottery. However, less than a month later, he died suddenly due to cardiorespiratory arrest while receiving dental treatment at a clinic in Cuiabá, the newspaper O Globo reported.
The father of four, who was being treated for hypertension and diabetes, was found unconscious on the floor of the clinic. According to the local police, he was more than 30 minutes without vital signs before the emergency services arrived. Although he was taken to a hospital, doctors were unable to save his life.
The initial autopsy confirmed cardiorespiratory arrest, but experts have not ruled out other possible causes. Additional tests are underway to determine if factors related to his pre-existing health or the circumstances of the dental procedure contributed to the fatal outcome.
Antônio had made a simple bet in the lottery, paying just 5 reais (82 cents) for a ticket that won out of 50,063,860 odds. The prize was one of the largest in the history of the Mega-Sena lottery.
Causes of death under analysis
The manager of the lottery house, Yesser Dahrouge, remembered Antônio as a regular customer who dreamed of winning. “He always joked that he was going to win the prize. It’s very sad, everyone dreams of making money like this, but it’s a shame that I couldn’t enjoy it,” Dahrouge said.
Antônio’s death has generated great commotion among his family and friends, as well as speculation among the population. “He was a simple person, who enjoyed betting with hope,” said a neighbor.
Despite his unexpected death, the millionaire prize represents a significant change for his family. Antônio’s relatives now face the challenge of administering the inheritance amid the pain of his departure, while the case continues to be the subject of medical analysis and public debate.
Antônio’s story is a reminder of life’s ironies, where the biggest dreams can be overshadowed by the unexpected.
