Plumber who had just £9 in bank scooped £11m lottery win
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A plumber's life was turned on its head when he bagged a staggering $22million (around £11m) lottery win.
In 2017, Joshua Winslet, then just 22 and with a mere $19 (£9) left in his bank account, decided to try his luck on Australia's $100m (£47.9m) Powerball draw. To his absolute astonishment, he found himself the sole recipient of a $22m jackpot just hours later.
However, this windfall led to heartbreak, and ultimately tragedy for the troubled young man. Joshua had been born with two disfiguring conditions that made his childhood unbearable.
Joshua, a resident of New Zealand's South Island, was born with both Duane syndrome and Goldenhar syndrome.
Duane syndrome is an eye disorder that limits the ability to move one or both eyes, while Goldenhar syndrome is a rare condition resulting from underdeveloped bones and muscles in the face, reports the Mirror.
These two congenital abnormalities made Joshua a target for bullies throughout his school years. As a child, he underwent plastic surgery to correct some of the signs of his condition, but the procedures were not entirely successful.
After a challenging time at school, Joshua briefly attended Adelaide University Senior College in South Australia before deciding to drop out and pursue a plumbing apprenticeship instead. At the age of 20, he decided to relocate to New Zealand, believing he might find it easier to secure work there.
After struggling in New Zealand as a plumber and teetering on the brink of bankruptcy, his fortunes were drastically altered by a fortuitous lottery win, netting him a stunning $22 million.
The Daily Mail's conversation with two ex-schoolmates of Joshua revealed their disbelief when he broke the news of his colossal lottery fortune. One admitted: "He sent a screenshot of his lotto app and we still almost didn't believe him. It was something that doesn't happen to someone like Josh, you know? Especially $22million."
Reflecting on Joshua's past hardships and deserved luck, another friend noted: "Out of everyone from our school, and after all the bullying he copped, he deserved it more than anyone."
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Initially, Joshua invested shrewdly, snapping up real estate investments across South Australia and New Zealand, while leaving the remaining windfall in a trust overseen by his parents.
Unfortunately, the sudden wealth became overwhelming, and his New Port mansion in Adelaide gained notoriety as a raucous party hub rife with alcohol and drugs. A framed memento of his winning lottery ticket adorned one wall of the notorious residence.
Tragedy struck in 2020 when the house became the target of a police raid, leading to the discovery of an alarming mess featuring over 27 grams of ecstasy, two grams of cocaine, and an unlawful firearm amid a sea of empty beer containers.
Joshua owned up to drug peddling and illegal firearm possession in South Australia's District Court. Following his conviction in August 2022, he was allocated a three-year and nine-month custodial term, with parole eligibility surfacing after 18 months.
Judge Heath Barklay noted during the sentencing: "Because of the money that you had won, there was no motivation on your part to work or do anything other than enjoy yourself."
However, Joshua's time behind bars was promptly suspended due to good behaviour, which led him right back to his hard-partying lifestyle. His friends were alarmed at his drug consumption, with one issuing a stark warning: "You need to stop this or you're going to die."
Tragically, their worst predictions materialised. By December 2022, barely months after his sentencing, Joshua was found dead in his home.
His premature demise was attributed to severe health complications triggered by his rampant substance abuse.
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