Nova Scotia’s newest millionaire still hasn’t cashed in his ticket five days after winning $13.8 million in Wednesday's Lotto 6/49 draw.
“I just wasn’t in a hurry to get my cheque,” says 77-year-old Leon Hirtle.
Hirtle is a retired fisherman who leads a simple life. He says all that money isn’t going to change a thing.
“I’m quite content the way I am,” says the Bell Island resident. “If I’d have won $1,000 I’d be satisfied.”
But Hirtle’s brother says he was ecstatic when he realized he had won.
“Leon came home into the house, hollering and going on. He said ‘I won, I won the lottery,’” says Eric Hirtle.
“I went to bed but I couldn’t sleep, thinking about it all night,” says Hirtle.
Hirtle has lived in the same home for more than 40 years and worked as a fisherman up until two years ago, when he retired at the age of 75.
“Fished with my father when I was only 16 for a couple of years, then I bought my own boat,” he says. “I bought this house here 45 to 46 years ago and fixed it all up.”
Hirtle comes from a family of 13 and is one of six local families left on Bell Island. He has never been married and doesn’t have any children.
He’s not sure what he will do with the money, but does intend to share with his family.
“Two nieces and they have kids,” he says. “I’ll have a lot left over. I’ll be able to buy an ice cream cone.”
Hirtle says he will continue to buy lottery tickets, and even bought two more when he validated his winning ticket at the Bridgewater Pharmasave last Friday.
“I dunno, I just got in the habit of buying them I guess.”
Hirtle plans to start filling out paperwork on Tuesday and says he has been told he will receive his cheque on Oct. 16.
He will celebrate his 78th birthday next Sunday.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Kayla Hounsell
