Thread: Rescued migrant wins Euro 400,000 in Spain lottery

An unemployed Senegalese man who was rescued by the Spanish coastguard after making a risky journey from Morocco eight years ago on a packed wooden boat won 400,000 euros ($437,000) in Spain's annual Christmas lottery, local media reported Wednesday.

The man, identified only by his first name Ngame, was one of the holders of one of the 1,600 tickets with the winning number -- 79140 -- in Tuesday's massive draw, regional daily newspaper La Voz de Almeria reported.

The tickets had been sold in the southern beach city of Roquetas de Mar in the province of Almeria where the 35-year-old lives with his wife, who joined him on the crossing to Spain.

"I just can't believe this, I can tell you that on some days we do not have five euros between the two of us," he told the newspaper which published a photo of Ngame holding his winning ticket.

Ngame and his wife arrived eight years ago in the resort island of Tenerife, a part of Spain's Canary Islands in the Atlantic off the coast of Morocco.

They were taken there after being rescued by Spain's coast guard when the boat they were travelling in ran into trouble.

"There were 65 people on that boat. I want to give thanks to Spaniards and the Spanish government for rescuing me when I was in the sea," he told the newspaper.

Since arriving in Spain, the couple have tried to survive on temporary farm work or as vegetable pickers in the sea of greenhouses that spread for kilometres (miles) in Almeria.

Ngame said he was recently laid off from his job in one of the greenhouses.

Spain's annual Christmas lottery, known as "El Gordo" or "The Fat One", is ranked as the world's richest, handing out a total of 2.2 billion euros this year.

Unlike other big lotteries that generate just a few big winners, Spain's Christmas lottery aims to share the wealth, with thousands of numbers getting a prize.

The Christmas lottery has been held uninterrupted since 1812. Even Spain's 1936-39 civil war did not end it, as each side held its own draw during the conflict.

It has become a popular Christmas tradition in Spain, with friends, colleagues and bar regulars banding together to buy tickets.

The standard ticket costs 20 euros ($22) and queues form outside lottery stores weeks ahead of the draw.

Only indigenous people who worked and lived in the place all their lives should be allowed to win the lottery.

rigged
same as the national lottery in uk , they let a pakistani win the first time that was played

Congratulations.


"on some days we do not have five euros between the two of us .."
The standard ticket costs 20 euros ...



Glad to see he got his priorities right!

Jeezo what a lot of jealous people. Well done that man.

Originally Posted by blue

rigged
same as the national lottery in uk , they let a pakistani win the first time that was played

Funny name for a Pakistani eh?

THE first winner of the National Lottery jackpot has died of a brain tumour at the age of 46 after holding a poignant farewell party in his local for friends and family.

Dad-of-three Ken Southwell, who scooped £839,254 in 1994, knew he was dying and wanted to celebrate the good times.

FIRST EVER LOTTERY WINNER DIES AT 46 - Mirror Online

Good for him.

He can now buy a small shelter to help other migrants that went through the same as him.

Originally Posted by Luigi

Good for him.

He can now buy a small shelter to help other migrants that went through the same as him.

Or a bigger boat.