The biggest lottery payout in Belize's history went today to a 27 year old Corozal man - who is the Fantasy 5 Winner.
The jackpot had been accumulating so long, folks were getting suspicious, but Ronnie Hernandez stayed in the game - and won, a record four hundred and sixty eight thousand dollars!
He and his family walked into Brad's Store this afternoon to pick up his cheque. He told 7news how his lucky numbers were chosen.
Ronnie Hernandez - Fantasy 5 Winner
"I was buying Fantasy 5 for like 4 months, and I used to buy only quick picks. But I stopped and I just stick to 2 numbers up to now. And with those 2 numbers that I was playing, those were the lucky numbers that fell. I Never believed that it was me who won it first of all."
Monica Bodden
"So how did you find out? Were you guys watching the draw?"
Ronnie Hernandez
"No, I wasn't watching the TV. Sometimes I just watch the news, and I went on my bike downtown. I was going to buy something, and I went first to check the ticket. I went there; the owner was right there in Corozal. I told him to check this ticket for me, and told me that I won a free ticket. I saw the number right there, and I saw 06, 01, 09, I got those 3 numbers. And I remember my ticket. I had 20, and I told him about it. He told me that I won and not to faint. I got goose bumps. I never believe it. He gave me my ticket. The people started to crowd around. I caught a taxi and went home."
Monica Bodden
"Now, how much did you win?"
Ronnie Hernandez
"$468,000, It's on the check over there."
Monica Bodden
"Now, that's a lot of money, what do you guys have planned for this amount of money?"
Ronnie Hernandez
"I want to build my house, clear my bills, and put some in the bank. I don't want to spend everything."
Monica Bodden
"Is it still surreal to you that you won so much money?"
Ronnie Hernandez
"Well I am here. Nobody believes me, none of my family. They say that I am joking. I told them that I won. The checked the number on the internet; we called in, and they found out that it was true."
Monica Bodden
"Will you continue playing Fantasy 5?"
The Lucky Fantasy 5 numbers are 9 - 1 - 19 - 6 - and 20. After tax was deducted, Hernandez walked away with three hundred and ninety seventy thousand, eight hundred dollars. The jackpot now returns to one hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
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