Lottery officials tried to reach him for weeks. He found out he won big just in time

It’s not often that a trip to the mailbox can result in one finding out they’ve won a lottery jackpot.

For one Michigan man, it was a reality. But the 62-year-old almost missed his chance to claim the $261,935 prize from the Michigan Lotter..

The lottery winner from Macomb County took home the big prize by playing eligible Monthly Second Chance Progressive Jackpot games. For every game he played, he earned entries to the drawing.

But he never expected to win, he told lottery officials.

The drawing took place March 8, officials said in an April 3 news release. The winner received multiple calls and emails, he later learned, but it wasn’t until he received a letter in the mail that he first realized he was a winner.

“I freaked out when I saw how much I’d won, but I was a little hesitant on if it was real,” he said.

The winner, who chose to remain anonymous, then saw the initial correspondence from lottery officials. He quickly called the lottery when he realized the deadline to submit his paperwork was the next day.

“I called the lottery right away and got my paperwork in so that I wouldn’t miss out on the prize,” he said. “I am so relieved I received the letter and was able to claim my winnings!”

He said he’ll use his winnings to save for retirement, allowing him to retire earlier than he planned.

Macomb County is in eastern Michigan and is part of the Detroit metropolitan area.

This story was originally published April 3, 2023 at 12:56 PM with the headline "Lottery officials tried to reach him for weeks. He found out he won big just in time."