Norfolk lotto winning builder swaps forklift for 'dream car'
Adam Lopez, 39, said he is choosing to take a break from work while he plans his future
A builder who won £1 million on a National Lottery scratchcard has swapped a forklift for his "dream car".
Adam Lopez, 39, said he is choosing to take a break from work while he plans his future after his bank balance increased "from £12.40 to £1,000,012.40".
Mr Lopez, who is from Norwich, said he travelled home to the house he shares with his mum, Danica, and stepdad, Andrew, to share the news of his winnings, adding the call to claim his prize was "the best call I've ever made".
Discussing the moment he realised he had won, Mr Lopez said: "I stopped to pick up a drink and bought a scratchcard at the same time.
"Once in the car I played the scratchcard and when I saw the £1 million, I didn't know what to do with myself, so shoved the scratchcard in the glovebox without even thinking.
"I always thought I'd scream if I ever won big but when it actually happened, I was stunned into complete silence!"
He added: "It was the most surreal moment when the lady from the National Lottery confirmed that I was a millionaire! My mum went off like a balloon she was so excited for me!
"Seeing my balance go from £12.40 to £1,000,012.40 was a real 'pinch me' moment!"
Mr Lopez has swapped the forklift he usually drives at work for a Range Rover Sport and treated his mum to a Range Rover Evoque.
The builder said: "Sadly we lost my dad eight years ago, he always said that he'd take care of us, and I think in some way this win has come from him.
"So, when I treated myself to my dream car, I knew I had to make mum's dream come true too. Seeing how happy it made her when she got behind the wheel of her new car was even better than when I found out I had won!"
Mr Lopez has also booked a family holiday to Barbados for next year with his winnings.
He added: "Never in my wildest dreams did I think this would happen to me, I feel so blessed. I've given myself a budget to have fun, a pot to treat people I love and the rest I'm saving for the future.
"I plan to use this time to enjoy myself and get fit, as I want to travel more next year. The trip to Barbados is going to be amazing and I'm also hoping to visit friends in New York.
"Who knows, I may even book a first-class ticket as I've always wanted to turn left on an aeroplane - thanks to this win I can make that dream a reality too!"
Mr Lopez bought his winning Scratchcard from a Premier store on Reepham Road, Norwich.
It costs £5 to play and there is a one in 3.33 overall chance of winning a prize, with prizes ranging from £5 to the top prize of £1 million.
The National Lottery generates on average more than £30 million each week for National Lottery-funded projects.
It has awarded more than £95 billion in prizes and created more than 7,400 millionaires or multimillionaires since its launch in 1994.