A factory worker who almost missed out on buying his winning National Lottery scratchcard because of roadworks outside the shop told his boss he would not be at work ‘ever again’ after he scooped £2million.
Ian Black, 61, was driving home from a night shift at the Pirelli factory in Carlisle, Cumbria, when he decided to stop at a local shop and buy a newspaper.
The father-of-five almost decided against stopping at the shop because of roadworks outside the store but he instead decided to persevere and stick with his original plan.
After arriving at the store Mr Black decided to try his luck on a Monopoly Deluxe scratchcard which had caught his eye.
Ian Black (pictured with his wife Sandra), 61, scooped £2million on a National Lottery scratchcard
Mr Black said he almost missed out on buying his winning National Lottery scratchcard because of roadworks outside the shop
Mr and Mrs Black, who have five children and 10 grandchildren, hope to buy a plot of land in the countryside
When the excited factory worker discovered he had won, he rushed home and asked his wife Sandra, 55, to ‘come downstairs and check something’.
Mr Black said: ‘I don’t think I have even seen that many zeros. I kept questioning, is this really £2m?
‘I immediately phoned work and said to them I wouldn’t be in that day, adding, actually I don’t think I will be in this week, or actually ever again.
‘My boss, understandably, sounded really shocked and just said why, what an earth has happened?
‘That feeling when I could just say ‘I have won the National Lottery’ is a moment I will never forget.
‘Never did I believe I would ever get to say this. You always dream about it – but it just doesn’t happen to people like Sandra and I – well now we are proof it does.’ =
At the top of the couple’s shopping list is an operation for their Labrador/Staffordshire bull terrier cross Meg to have the bones of her leg fused together.
They also hope to buy a plot of land in the countryside to building their dream home on, a new Volvo for Sandra and a 75-inch tv.
The couple, who have five children and 10 grandchildren, also plan to help them get on to the property ladder as they are all currently renting.
Mr Black said of the winning ticket: ‘It’s not just life-changing for us, it’s life-changing for the whole family.
‘They’ll all get a treat and I’m going to get advice on how I can use it to make money.
The couple have said they also plan to help them get their children and grandchildren on to the property ladder
Mr Black said he phoned work and told his boss he would not be in ‘this week, or actually ever again’
The couple will also use the money to pay for an operation for their Labrador/Staffordshire bull terrier cross Meg
‘Something was just telling me to buy it.
‘I went out of the shop and sat and scratched it – I just could not believe what I was seeing. I let out a scream and immediately drove home.
‘As I went into the house I was shouting to my wife, Sandra, to come down the stairs. She immediately thought something had happened to the dog.
‘I said ”no, we have won £2m”.
‘She just thought it was all a joke – but then she looked at the card and almost fainted. Sandra just went white.
‘To think I almost didn’t go into the shop on that morning because of the roadworks.
‘I really was so close to just driving past.’
The scratchcard Mr Black bought was The Monopoly Deluxe, which operators say has a 1 in 3.38 overall chance of winning a prize. Prizes range from £5 up to the top prize of £2m.
Mr Black added: ‘It is all just so overwhelming and I actually think the news is still sinking in.
‘Sandra and I now cannot wait to really live the dream and make the absolute most of our retirement! What a magical moment this is in our lives!’