Warkworth man claims $19 million Powerball prize

Wednesday, 29 November 2017

A man headed off for a swim to clear his head when he heard he'd won $19.1 million.

A Warkworth man spent several days unaware he had a winning Lotto ticket under his seat before claiming his $19.1 million Powerball prize.

The winning ticket for last Wednesday's $38 million Lotto draw was sold at New World Warkworth in north Auckland.

A Wairarapa family syndicate won the other $19 million prize.

The Warkworth winner, who wished to remain anonymous, said he'd been unwittingly driving around all weekend with the lucky ticket under his seat.

* Two $19 million Powerball prizes still unclaimed

* $38m Lotto Powerball: Locals on the lookout for signs of the millionaire in their midst**

When he stopped in at his local supermarket on Monday night to grab some groceries, he got the surprise of his life when he checked the ticket.

'I handed over my ticket to the lady behind the counter and the words 'Congratulations, you are a first division winner' flashed up on the screen.

'I asked the lady, 'What does this mean?' But the expression on her face gave it away – her eyes were wide and she had a massive grin on her face,' he said.

'I'm the type of guy who likes to contain my emotions, so she probably thought I wasn't even excited – if only she knew how I was feeling inside, I was bursting with happiness.'

Rather than head straight home after leaving the store, the winner decided to go for a swim at Snell's Beach to clear his head.

'It was great, the water was cool and I swam out deep. All the rushing thoughts disappeared and I started to feel a lot calmer.'

Cooled off, the winner drove home to tell his partner the good news.

'While I was swimming I had been thinking about how I wanted to tell her, so I wandered in the house and causally asked her 'did you hear someone in Warkworth has won $19 million?'

'When she turned to look at me I said 'and you're looking at him'. She just stared at me in shock, trying to read my face,' he said.

'When she realised I wasn't joking, we had a big hug and a kiss – it was a very special moment.'

With the winnings now safely tucked away, the man is taking some time out to figure out his next move.

'I feel very fortunate to have won, but I want to let everything settle down a bit before I make any big decisions.'

He said he'd made a wish to win Powerball a couple of months ago when he blew out the candles on his birthday cake.

'Looks like the birthday gods are making wishes come true this year.'