A lucky man in the USA has scooped the top prize on a lottery scratchcard after he followed an instinctive feeling telling him to buy a ticket.
Christopher Hudson, 30, from Delaware State, USA, said he was stunned when he uncovered the USD 100,000 (GBP 82,408) prize on a ‘ USD 100,000 Crossword’ ticket.
The part-time landscaper who runs his own company revealed how he got the USD 10 (GBP 8.2) ticket at a 7-Eleven store during a short break from his retail work in Ocean City, Maryland State.
He said in a statement obtained by Newsflash from Maryland Lottery: “I barely play scratch-offs. I just had a lucky feeling.”
Christopher then recalled how he scanned the game to check for a win, and was shocked when a message showing him the amount he had won popped up on the screen.
He said: “I was seeing stars when I saw that USD 100,000 [GBP 82,408]. Thank goodness no one was in the store.”
The lucky man then took the instant ticket to his car and called his fiancee Claudia Taylor, who works in hospitality, to share with her the great news.
Christopher said he asked her to come and get the ticket and bring it home for safekeeping as he had to return to work.
He added: “I was freaking out waiting for her. I was about to have a heart attack.”
Claudia said: “He calls me and, at first, I thought he was making it up.”
At lottery headquarters, the happy couple said their biggest win up to date was a USD 1,400 [GBP 1,153] prize at Dover Downs Casino in Delaware several years ago.
They said that the new windfall will help them upgrade the landscaping business, and invest in more equipment.
Claudia added: “This is perfect timing.”
Maryland Lottery officials said: “For its role in selling the USD 100,000 [GBP 82,408] top-prize winning scratch-off, 7-Eleven #19354 located at 13900 Coastal Highway in Ocean City earns a USD 1,000 [GBP 824] bonus from the Lottery.
“The USD 100,000 [GBP 82,408] Crossword 7th Edition game hit the market this summer with eight top prizes; seven remain along with a dozen USD 10,000 [GBP 8,240] prizes.”
