Grandfather says £500,000 lottery win was 'fate' because he bought ticket ... trends now
A grandfather has thanked 'fate' after scooping £500,000 on the lottery after swapping to an early shift so he could attend a hospital appointment.
Jeff Etherington, who works as a machine setter for the automotive industry, said he was convinced it must be a joke when his numbers came up.
The 65-year-old, from Harlow in Essex, bought his winning Thunderball lucky dip ticket at Sainsbury's in Harlow on January 11, after attending a meeting about his knee replacement.
Despite winning the large sum of money, he is not planning to quit his job but will use the funds to tie the knot with his fiancee Kim Read, 60.
Jeff Etherington, 65, won £500,000 on the lottery and thanked 'fate' for buying a ticket after he swapped to an early shift
The machine setter said if he didn't swap shifts and buy a ticket when he did, then 'some other lucky person' could be celebrating instead of him
'I've always believed that one day I would win big,' said Mr Etherington.
'It's taken 28 years but here we are, I'm heading into retirement with £500,000 extra to my name.
'I can't help thinking it's fate, had I not swapped shifts for that hospital appointment, I wouldn't have been buying my lucky dip ticket at that exact moment and some other lucky person might now be celebrating instead.'
He and Ms Read have five children and eight grandchildren between them.
'We've been together for six years, and finally got engaged in 2021,' said Mr Etherington.
'We always knew we would get married eventually but the money was always spent on something else.
'Now that 'eventually' wedding can happen imminently.'
