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Thursday, May 27, 1999 Published at 17:36 GMT 18:36 UK


World: Asia-Pacific

The luckiest man alive

Bill Morgan in shock after his second lottery win

An Australian who just a year ago was pronounced clinically dead after a heart attack has been rewarded with enough good luck to last a lifetime.

By rights Bill Morgan should have died and been buried.


[ image: The first step to Lottery Heaven]
The first step to Lottery Heaven
After his huge heart attack Bill was rushed to hospital and given a drug to which he had an extreme allergic reaction.

His heart stopped for 14 minutes and he went into a coma.

Doctors thought about switching off his life support system but instead he was transferred to another hospital which managed to save him.


[ image: Step Two: Buy that lucky ticket]
Step Two: Buy that lucky ticket
Twelve days later he emerged from a coma with all his facilities intact.

Not only did he survive, but embarked on a year of unbelieveable good fortune.

He went on to marry the girl of his dreams and then won not one but two lotteries.

Two weeks ago Bill collected a car with a winning lottery ticket.


[ image: Step Three: Scratching technique is vital]
Step Three: Scratching technique is vital
A local television station in Melbourne decided to tell Bill's story, and asked him to return to the store where he bought his winning ticket.

Bill, a 37-year-old truck driver, was happy to oblige when the television crew asked him to re-enact the buying and scratching of his ticket.

However, when being filmed scratching a duplicate card he found he had an even bigger win on his hands.

In disbelief and looking shocked he held his face in his hands.


[ image: You see, it's as easy as that]
You see, it's as easy as that
"I just won 250,000. I am not joking. I just won 250,000. Please don't film me," he said.

Lady Luck had struck twice and Bill was finding it a bit too much to bear.

"I don't believe this is happening. I think I will have another heart attack. Oh gosh!" he said after winning 250,000 Australian dollars

Last year Bill was living in a caravan, now he can afford a new house to share with his new wife and new car.

He must consider himself to be the luckiest man alive.





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