A lucky punter has said how he couldn’t believe it after scooping more than GBP 140,000 on the lottery.
Electrician and construction worker Nikolay Shevelev, 47, from the city of Yekaterinburg, in Russia’s Ural Federal District, was stunned when he won RUB 16.7 million (GBP 140,000) on the lottery in October.
He said he bought three tickets at a local retailer, one of which turned out a double winner after hitting RUB 105,000 (GBP 901) in the first round, and then an astonishing GBP 16.6 million (GBP 142,452) in the ‘Golden Barrel’ category.
Nikolay said in a statement obtained by Stoloto: “I didn’t watch the broadcast of the drawing on TV, but later I checked the results on the Stoloto website.
“When the winnings were displayed, at first I didn’t realise how big the amount was. I checked again. I’ve never seen so much money!
“I felt goosebumps through my body. I checked it a third time and called my wife, and she screamed with joy. My wife danced away her emotions, and I was simply shocked!
“We were both shocked. And then she kissed me.”
Nikolay and his wife of more than 20 years, Natalya, reportedly live in a modest apartment but said they are already preparing for a lifetime change.
The lucky grandparents said they plan to use the money to buy a new apartment and use the rest for their children.
He said: “I want to buy an apartment for my wife and children. Providing them with housing has been a long-standing dream.
” Of course, we’ll leave some for the holidays, and I’ll buy gifts for my wife. Perfume, a fur coat, jewelry – whatever she wants.
“Most of all I dream of a dacha with a swimming pool and a beautiful garden. But now I can slowly build it myself!”
Nikolay said that in his free time, he likes to go to the bathhouse, meet friends, and take his wife out for a date at the cinema or in the park.
He said: “We especially often go for a walk when she wants to buy something for herself in a shopping center.”
The loyal player said he has been playing the lottery for over five years, but has never won a big prize until now.
He said: “I don’t believe in lucky omens, in any special numbers, in the fact that you can calculate something in advance.
“I just took three tickets and that’s it. In general, in my life, I don’t complain about luck, but I never thought that I would be so lucky.”
