A man in England won roughly $1.3 million after using the lottery numbers favored by his late dad
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Sean Hayes had been using father James' lottery numbers from a booklet that James kept before his death in 2010
Hayes said he played his dad's numbers as a way to feel close to him
A man in England got more than $1 million from the lottery thanks to a set of lucky numbers left for him — in a unusual twist — by his deceased dad, officials said this week.
Sean Hayes, of Oxfordshire, won £1,000,000, or roughly $1,338,460, according to a news release by theNational Lottery.
Hayes, 56, had been using father James' lottery numbers from a booklet that James kept before his death in 2010, Hayes told lottery officials.
He had played the numbers in the past, in James' honor, but lost the book for a while only to later rediscover it.
"To think that my dad chose these numbers all those years ago before he died is just unbelievable and it's a really nice connection to my dad's memory," said Hayes, an avid gardener.
As for what he's going to do with the newfound fortune, Hayes plans to buy a house with his wife, Sara, and hopes to include a garden somewhere on the property.
"It would be ideal to have some green space at home," he said.
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A new car and some long-awaited traveling with his wife are also on his to-do list.
Hayes initially had some trouble nailing down his winnings: He called lottery officials to confirm his prize but wasn't able to be heard due to poor phone reception, he said.
Eventually, he managed to get a signal — describing the moment as "unbelievable." (He said he had a "few extra drinks" that night to celebrate.)
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"I'm so grateful to my dad to have chosen these numbers," Hayes said. "The money is going to make a real difference to our lives."
If you or someone you know is struggling with a gambling problem, please contact the National Problem Gambling Helpline Network at 1-800-522-4700 or go togamtalk.org.
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