Discarded 1.6 Billion Won Lottery Ticket Found After Day-Long Search in Garbage Truck

A lottery ticket worth 1 million euros (approximately 1.6 billion won) was miraculously recovered from a pile of garbage in southern Italy after its owner almost missed out on the prize.

Roberto Nicola Toscano, an administrator for SANB, a public agency managing waste in the Puglia region, confirmed that waste collectors painstakingly searched through a truckload of trash to find the ticket in "miraculously intact condition." The winning ticket was purchased by a woman from a local shop on August 2. However, a malfunction with the verification machine at the small shop led her to believe it was a losing ticket, prompting her to discard it. Small shops can only cash minor winnings, leading to the machine's error.

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miraculously intact condition

She always chose the same numbers and only realized her mistake when her family informed her of the win. By then, the ticket had already been collected with the day's refuse. The woman contacted the waste collection agency, pleading for them to find the ticket and signing a waiver agreeing to cover any additional costs. Toscano noted that the chances of finding it were slim, as it was already in a garbage truck. However, the agency managed to trace the truck's route.

Fortunately, the collection team located the truck. Considering the potential presence of hazardous materials, the vehicle was transported to a specialized company equipped with search equipment. After more than a day of searching, the team successfully retrieved the ticket. Toscano shared that the winner shed "tears of joy" upon being informed of its recovery.

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tears of joy