Pregnant widow of lottery winner killed in hit & run describes ‘worst pain imaginable’ & says ‘we’re completely lost’

Handout photo dated 13/05/20 issued by the National Lottery of Anthony Canty, 33, from Maldon in Essex, who won £1 million in the Euromillions UK Millionaire Maker draw on May 5 celebrating with his partner Katie Sullivan and miniature Dachshund puppy, Lucky Lola, that they bought from a neighbour the night before their win. PA Photo. Issue date: Thursday May 14, 2020. See PA story LOTTERY Canty. Photo credit should read: National Lottery/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. Credit: PA THE pregnant widow of a EuroMillions winner who died after being knocked off his bike in suspected hit-and-run says he’ll “never meet his unborn baby”. Anthony Canty, 39, won £1 million 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. Anthony Canty, 39, died after his bicycle was struck in a suspected hit-and-run Credit: PA Canty and his partner Katie won £1million back in 2020 Credit: PA Essex Police said officers were scrambled to Maldon Road in Tiptree on the morning of May 21 after cyclist Mr Canty was involved in a collision with a black Ford Ka. He was raced to hospital but tragically died four days later, the force added. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Cops said an 18-year-old man remains under investigation and that inquiries continue. In a heartbreaking tribute released through police on Tuesday, Mr Canty’s widow Kate 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.” Kate said Mr Canty was “one of a kind” and they were “so lucky to have him in our lives”. “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. Most read in The Sun “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. He really was one in a million and one of a kind. I still can’t believe he has been taken from us so tragically.” “I will make sure all our children grow up knowing what an incredible man and amazing dad he was,” Kate continued. “They will know how much he loved them, how hard he worked for us and how proud he was to be their father.” Tributes to “true gentleman” Anthony have flooded in on social media. Among them was David Beckham’s sister Lynne Beckham-Briggs, 54, who wrote on Facebook: “Another good one taken too soon! Anthony Canty you will be truly missed! Such a lovely man.” Anthony won the EuroMillions in the May 5, 2020 draw and joked about he initially thought he had won £100,000. It wasn’t until Katie checked the numbers herself that they realised they were millionaires. The couple were pictured gleefully spraying champagne as they posed with their giant cheque. Anthony planned to spend the money on a new house and a trip to Disneyland for his daughters, but he vowed not to give up work for building materials supplier J Purdy and Sons. In April 2020, Mr Canty gave CPR to a police officer after he collapsed while they were on a bus. 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. 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.