A migrant from Senegal, who was rescued from the sea in 2007 and now resides in Spain, has won €400,000 in the El Gordo Christmas lottery.
The man, named Ngagne, told Spanish newspapers that he and his wife often didn’t have €5 to last the day, reports the BBC.
The 35-year-old, who travelled from Morocco to Spain nine years ago, revealed that he recently lost his job as a vegetable picker in greenhouses near the town of Almeria.
He recalled his journey to Spain, saying to the La Voz de Almeria newspaper:
“There were 65 people on that boat.
“I want to give thanks to Spaniards and the Spanish government for rescuing me when I was in the sea.”
The winning number – 79140 – appeared on 1,600 tickets in Roquetas de Mar, Ngagne’s coastal hometown, and the winnings were distributed between lucky ticket-holders.
Lead image via YouTube/BBC News
