EuroMillions win means shopkeeper, 53, can buy his first London home
Mehmet Ozer celebrates his �303,465.20 EuroMillions win at his workshop in Caledonian Road, Islington. Picture: Ady Kerry/Camelot - Credit: Ady Kerry
A lucky upholsterer has a foot on the housing ladder after decades of renting – thanks to a £300,000 EuroMillions win.
Mehmet Ozer, 53, who has run Classic Upholstery in Islington for three decades, will use the cash to buy a new home.
After buying his ticket in the Co-op across the road from his Caledonian Road shop, he only remembered to check the numbers the day after the draw was made on January 29.
Mehmet, who moved his premises over from Holloway Road in November, said: “I was having a quiet morning getting ready to head off to the workshop when I remembered my EuroMillions ticket. Using my iPhone I looked up the winning numbers.
“I just couldn’t believe my eyes when they matched. I stood up, then lay down, stood up again, screamed loudly and went out on the balcony to get some fresh air.”
This outpouring was before Mehmet had even checked the amount he had won.
“Once I had taken in that I had matched so many numbers I then checked the prize breakdown,” he said. “I saw that six other people in the UK had matched and that we were each walking away with £303,465.20 - and then I started to scream with joy again.
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“It’s fabulous to know that there are five others who will also be celebrating a win the same as mine.”
Despite having learnt of his life-changing win just minutes earlier, Mehmet set off for work as usual.
He wasted no time in booking a weekend away in Rome, but is now looking to secure his future in his adopted city.
“I’m originally from Turkey,” he said, “but London has been my home for more than 30 years, so I have no intention of leaving.
“Until now I have always rented, but this EuroMillions win means I can finally buy my own home in the city that I love so much. It’s simply magical.”