Victoria Resident in Shock After Winning $13 Million Lotto 6/49 Jackpot

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Aug. 29, 2014) -

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Despite knowing that a winning Lotto 6/49 ticket had been sold in Victoria, retired Victoria resident Duarte Almeida waited more than three weeks to check his ticket from the August 2 draw.

Almeida almost fainted when he finally checked and discovered that he held the winning Lotto 6/49 ticket worth $13,688,951.40.

"I knew someone in Victoria had won but I never thought it would be me," smiled Almeida. "I have been shaking and sweating since I had learned we had won."

Almeida had been on the way to breakfast with his wife but decided instead to head straight to the ferry and to BCLC's office to beat the long weekend crowd.

"My wife was waiting in the truck when I checked the ticket," described Almeida. "I shut the door and told her 'we were rich'. I still can't believe this!"

Almeida has been playing the same numbers since 1986 and buys his lottery tickets from different locations.

The couple are still considering what to do with the win and are looking at buying a new truck and planning a long vacation.

The winning ticket was purchased in Shawnigan Lake at the Aitken and Fraser Market on Dundas Road.

A $50 million prize remains unclaimed five months after a ticket sold in Langley, B.C. matched all seven numbers on the March 14 Lotto Max draw. When the winner does come forward, the prize will tie the largest jackpot ever awarded in B.C.

Lotto 6/49 is a nationwide lottery game drawn on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Players can purchase tickets at any lottery retailer or at PlayNow.com until 6 p.m. (PT).

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