For the lucky lotto‑player in southern Italy, a moment of uncertainty turned into a winning miracle. After buying a EuroMillions ticket in Bitonto, the player was told the shop could not process it because the prize was too high, labeling the ticket "non‑payable." He simply threw it into a bin.
Only when a relative pointed out that the numbers on the ticket matched the recent draw did the player realise a great mistake had been made. He reached out to the local refill company, and waste boss Roberto Nicola Toscano launched a search.
The bin lorry that carried the discarded ticket was located on a Sunday, before the load could be sent to a landfill. The company headed to a special site, combing a mountain of waste for “a small piece of paper” that might still hold value.
At the peak of the two‑day hunt, workers exploded into cheers when they found the slab of paper. The ticket was intact, showing the winning numbers 2, 4, 8, 10, 51, and the €1 million prize (about £857,000). Toscano called the find "miraculous."
The recovery cost will be charged to the winner, who earlier signed a declaration to cover the expenses. In a lighter moment, Toscano and his colleagues bought a scratch card as a joke – they went home with €50.
