A lucky Perth lotto winner has revealed he put his winning $2.8 million ticket into the washing machine before remembering and plucking the wet slip out of his trouser pocket.
The Belmont man, aged in his late 20s, bought Saturday’s division one ticket from Here’s Luck Lottery Centre at Belmont Forum, but it was nearly destroyed before the winning numbers for the $20 million draw were revealed.
The man was able to salvage his winning ticket and claim his millions in prize money.
“I forgot to take the ticket out of my trousers and put it in the washing machine,” he said.
“After five minutes I realised and stopped the washing machine to grab the ticket, fortunately it was safe.”
The man claimed his win at Lotterywest headquarters this week.
“I couldn’t think, I couldn’t sleep, I am still processing the win,” he said.
Lotterywest spokesperson James Mooney said the WA player was among seven Division One Superdraw winners across the country, with two crowned in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.
“For this player it all came out of the wash OK, but it’s a reminder for players to register their ticket to prevent what could be a multimillion-dollar mistake” he said.
Earlier this month, Australia’s largest ever lotto draw was won by two ticket holders, one from Queensland and one from New South Wales, who shared in the $200 million jackpot.
The Queensland woman discovered she had won while getting ready for an early morning gym class.
She had bought an unregistered ticket for Thursday night’s draw, meaning officials had to wait for her to come forward to claim her share.
“I scanned the ticket on The Lott app and all the winning numbers immediately lit up and I saw that I’d won $100 million on my phone,” she said, according to the Powerball operator.
“I started to pace the floor back and forth and question if it was even real.
“I didn’t know who to call or what to say. I was slapping my face and telling myself to wake up!”
The woman reportedly said she held on to the ticket “for dear life” and called her father for advice.
She also ditched her planned gym class.
When asked how she planned to enjoy her life as a newly minted multimillionaire, she said she couldn’t wait to help others, go on an overseas family holiday and start her own business venture.
The other winners were a couple from Hunter Valley.
The man and woman, who had bought a 50-game ticket online for about $70, reportedly answered The Lott’s call on the first ring as they lay in bed shortly after the draw.
“It’s a lot of money. A lot of money to fathom!” the woman said.
“Well, I absolutely won’t be working any more! I mean, honestly, do I really need to?
“My partner is here with me now. He’s a bit in shock. He loves his job, so I don’t know if he’ll be retiring.”
with AAP