Student (22), wins nearly £600,000

A student from Co Limerick who pleaded with his girl friend to switch TV channels from Blind Date to the National Lottery draw…

A student from Co Limerick who pleaded with his girl friend to switch TV channels from Blind Date to the National Lottery draw to let him check his £1 Quick-Pick ticket could not believe his eyes when he saw he had won £599,439.

"When we saw the six numbers, it was amazing how quic kly we forgot about Blind Date," said the 22-year-old construction studies student at Tralee RTC. The student, who does not wish to be identified, went back to study full-time this year having worked for four years after leaving school.

He phoned his mother but had to travel home and produce the ticket before she would believe it. "I went out to a nightclub in Limerick with my girl friend for a few pints. However I was so excited I only stayed for an hour," he said. He plans to "take a long look at his fu ture" before deciding if he will continue his studies.