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'Legs were like spaghetti': $35M Lotto Max prize won by semi-retired truck driver from Kamloops

Gary Hill matched all seven numbers.
garyhill
Retired Kamloops truck driver Gary Hill (left) is presented with a cheque for $35 million from BCLC interim president and CEO Lynda Cavanaugh on Wednesday at BCLC's Kamloops headquarters.

The identity of the Tournament Capital’s newest multimillionaire is no longer a secret.

Gary Hill, a self-described semi-retired trucker, was unveiled Wednesday as the winner of $35 million in a Lotto Max draw last month.

When asked how it felt to be a millionaire, Hill said he was at a loss for words.

“I am speechless right now — I thought I had a whole bunch of things to say, but my words are not coming out,” Hill said.

He started by retelling the moment he found out he had won such a massive jackpot.

“My legs went like spaghetti, I grabbed the wall,” Hill said.

After double checking his numbers over and over again just to be sure, Hill said he was actually brought to tears.

“I looked at the ticket and I looked at the numbers and I fell on the bed and I actually cried for 15 minutes,” Hill explained.

“Not a lot went through my mind. My legs almost gave out. Never thought I’d win eight digits.”

The new millionaire said he doesn’t have too many plans for the money just yet.

“I really don’t know what to do. Once it hits the bank, probably a month before, I'll figure out what I’m going to do,” he said.

Hill’s ticket was one of two winners of a record-setting $70-million draw on June 22. He matched all seven numbers to claim half the prize — which is B.C.’s biggest jackpot so far this year.