Man $23m richer after first overseas trip cancelled
A man who thought he might never be able to afford to travel outside of Australia will now never have to worry about money again after winning more than $23 million.
The coronavirus pandemic forced the man, from Narre Warren, southeast of Melbourne, to cancel his first ever overseas holiday this year, leaving him thinking he might be “stuck here for the rest of my days”.
On Tuesday, five days after Thursday’s Powerball draw 1249, he was delivered the incredible news that he had just become $23,686,120.08 richer, being the only nationwide division one winner.
He told The Lott officials his family had been struggling financially due to the coronavirus, and he had been unable to afford to retire.
“Well I am still working because I haven’t been able to afford to retire up until now, but it’s safe to say that retirement will be on the cards,” he said.
His life-long goal to travel out of the country will finally be a possibility when travel restrictions are lifted, having been left with no choice but to call off the trip he had booked for this year.
“I was so disappointed. I said to my family ‘I’ll be stuck here for the rest of my days’, but it’s looking like that won’t happen now,” he said.
“As soon as the travel bans are lifted we’ll be taking a family holiday overseas.
“My family have been really affected by the coronavirus so it will be awesome to know we will be OK.”
The winning entry was purchased at Casey News & Lotto in the Casey Central Shopping Centre in Narre Warren South.
“We are so happy the winner has been united with their prize,” owner Agnello D’souza said.
“It’s created a real buzz in store and I can’t wait to tell all of our customers it has been claimed. Congratulations to our winner – we wish him all the best with his prize.”
The winning numbers were 32, 35, 3, 18, 7, 6 and 14, and the Powerball number was 2.
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