Mesothelioma victim wins bet that he would survive

In Buckinghamshire, a man diagnosed with terminal cancer is to collect a second win for the payment of £ 5,000 betting that he could stay alive.

Jon Matthews, 59, from Milton Keynes, was diagnosed with Mesothelioma, cancer associated with asbestos, in 2006 and he said, had months to live.

It placed two bets, each with a £ 100 bet at odds 50 / 1 that he was alive in June 2008 and June 2009, and the third bet will earn him another £ 10,000 if he lives up to 1 June 2010.

The widower will collect his second lot of £5,000 pound prize on Monday.

Never in 30 years in the company I was so happy to pay the winning client
Graham Sharpe from William Hill

Mr Matthews said: "I think I am the first person in the world, bet on my own life.

"When I was diagnosed with mesothelioma, I said the death sentence.

"I was upset, not because everyone has some time to die.

"But it is interesting that for me was how long it took - it would take weeks or years?"

Mr. Matthews stated that the plans give away most of his winnings to charity, including the Macmillan cancer charity.

William Hill spokesman Graham Sharpe said: "We had never been asked to take a bet of this nature before.

"But as Jon approached us directly and was adamant that it would give him an additional incentive to battle his illness, we wanted to bet him.

"Never in 30 years in the company I was so happy to pay a winning client £ 10,000 is, I believe further £ 10,000 next year to come."