'I couldn't breathe!': Lotto winners take home $26m
A couple has struck it lucky taking home the fourth largest prize win ever in New Zealand's Powerball.
The pair had been discussing what they would do if they became millionaires when they decided they had better check their ticket.
"We were having a cup of tea and just started talking about it and wondering who had won," one of the winners from Thames told tvnz.
The winner was so shocked when she looked at the numbers she struggled to tell her husband the good news.
"I couldn't breathe! I kept trying to speak, but nothing would come out.
"Eventually I turned to my husband, in a flood of tears, and said, 'darling, I think we've won it.' "
The division one prize from Saturday's draw was close to AUD $26 million (NZD $27.3m).
The couple made an attempt to officially check their ticket but decided against going into the store as there was a photographer outside.
They decided to go home and call the store to let them know they were the winners, after they'd calmed their nerves with another cup of tea.
"The store was so busy on Sunday with everyone coming in to check their tickets, so we were very pleased to hear from the winners," store manager Sukhtal Singh said.
According to tvnz the couple play Lotto each week and are hoping to stay anonymous.
It is reported that the manager of the store let the couple in the back entrance and closed the shop when they formally visited to scan their ticket.
