EuroMillions Jackpot Winner, 39, K-il-led in Sh0cking Hit-and-Run as Pregnant Wife Left to Mourn Her “Amazing Husband”
The pregnant widow of a lottery winner who was killed in a hit-and-run crash has said her family were ‘so lucky to have him in their lives’.
Anthony Canty, 39, won £1million in May 2020, weeks after he helped save the life of a police officer who had a heart attack on a bus during the Covid-19 lockdown.
On May 21, the father-of-two was riding his bicycle at around 6.30am in Tiptree when he was involved in a crash with a black Ford Ka.
He was taken to hospital where he tragically died four days later from his injuries.
Essex Police said an 18-year-old man remains under investigation and that inquiries continue.
His grieving widow Kate has shared her pain that her beloved husband will ‘never get to meet their unborn baby’.
In a tribute released through police on Tuesday, she said he was ‘an amazing husband and the best dad’.
She said: ‘I have lost my husband, my two girls have lost their dad, and he will never get to meet our unborn baby.
‘We are all completely broken.’
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Anthony Canty, 39, has died six years after winning £1million with his wife Kate
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The father of two was riding his bicycle when he was involved in a collision with a Ford Ka
Mrs Canty said her husband was ‘one of a kind’ and ‘would do anything for anyone’.
In April 2020 just before his lottery win, he saved a police officer’s life on a bus after he had a heart attack.
The officer was airlifted to hospital and spent five days in intensive care.
Mr Canty said at the time that he stayed in touch with the officer’s partner while he was in hospital, and dropped off fruit and flowers, and kept in contact after he recovered.
Now, Mrs Canty has been forced to come to terms with raising their soon-to-be three children on her own.
‘The pain of losing him is the worst pain imaginable,’ she said.
‘Every day feels overwhelming and we are completely lost without him.
‘He was a hardworking, loving family man with the biggest heart.
‘He had a heart of gold and would do anything for anyone.
‘If someone needed help, Anthony was always there.
‘He was the life and soul of the party and lit up every room he walked into with his big smile, his charm and his character.
‘He made people laugh, brought people together and made every moment brighter just by being there.
‘Life will never be the same without him.
‘I still can’t believe he has been taken from us so tragically.’
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Mrs Canty is pregnant with the couple’s third child and has shared her pain that her husband will never get to meet them
Mrs Canty said the ‘only comfort’ she now has is knowing how loved he was.
She added: ‘I will make sure all our children grow up knowing what an incredible man and amazing dad he was.
‘They will know how much he loved them, how hard he worked for us and how proud he was to be their father.’
Police are appealing for witnesses to the collision on May 21 this year and are asking for anyone with CCTV, dashcam or other footage relating to the incident to get in touch quoting incident 174 of May 21.
A local shopkeeper told The Sun the car hit Mr Canty from behind and a passer-by gave him CPR until emergency services arrived.
‘It shouldn’t happen to anyone, but he was a lovely, family man. It’s very sad,’ they said.
‘He was well known around here, he grew up around this area.’
Tributes have poured in for Mr Canty, who was working for a building firm at the time of his death.
One friend described him as ‘one of the nicest, genuine and true gents I have ever had the pleasure of knowing’.
She added: ‘Ant you was a fighter to the end and died a Legend that won’t be forgotten.’
A second said: ‘Ever since you was a young boy you always had such a beaming cheeky smile, your mood always brightened up a room, you was such a likeable person and I would never hear one person say a bad word about you!
‘Absolutely speechless what has happened to you life is so unfair. My heart goes out to your beautiful family at this terrible time.’
