A man with terminal cancer who won 10,000 pounds by gambling on his own life has died, just weeks short of cashing in a third bet.

    英国一名癌症晚期患者一家博彩公司“赌命”，两次共成功赢取1万英镑，却在第三次限期到来之前离开人世。

    Jon Matthews, 60, was diagnosed with terminal cancer, in April 2006 and his doctor told him he would not be alive to see 2007. The widower refused to accept the prognosis and placed a 100-pound bet with odds of 50-1 that he would survive until June 1, 2008 -- and cashed in 5,000 pounds when he made it. He placed a further bet, for the same amount and with the same odds, that he would make it another year -- and on June 1, 2009, cashed in another 5,000.

    据报道，这位名叫马修斯的60岁独居老人2006年4月确诊晚期癌症，医生告诉他撑不过1年。但马修斯不服，随即找到一家博彩公司以50倍的赔率下 100英镑赌注，赌他能够活到2008年6月1日，结果他成功赢取了5000英镑。之后1年马修斯又于2009年6月1日以同样方式赢得5000英镑。

    The odds that he would stay alive another 12 months went up to 100-1 and he placed another 100-pound bet, which would have netted him 10,000 pounds if he survived until June 1, 2010, but he finally succumbed to his illness last week.

    马修斯第三次以100倍赔率下注，赌自己能活到今年6月1日，却在限期到来前不敌病魔于上周辞世，从而无缘本可以到手的一万英镑。

    Graham Sharp, who took the bet for William Hill, said the gambling had given Matthews "fun and enjoyment". "It gave him an incentive to keep on battling through the disease," Sharp said.

    为马修斯下注的经纪人格雷厄姆称赌局给老人带来了“乐趣和享受”，而且“激励”老人与病魔顽强抗争。

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