It wasn’t him – meet Shropshire’s unluckiest lottery player
Tuesday 29th March 2011, 8:00PM BST.
Michael Hassall - not a Euromillions winner
Shropshire’s unluckiest lottery player is still managing to find a smile despite missing out on a share of a £121 million jackpot.
Pensioner Michael Hassall, of St Michael’s Street, Shrewsbury, said the five main numbers on his Euromillions ticket were all just one out from the winning balls.
He said he stayed up late on Friday night especially to see the prize draw but was left feeling sick at the result.
The former Army caterer didn’t even pick his own numbers but opted for a lucky dip while buying his ticket at the newsagent on Claremont Road.
“I’m not sure if it’s ever been done before, ” said Mr Hassall.
“I couldn’t believe it, so I rang up my sister to tell her my numbers because I had to tell someone else they were all just one away. She couldn’t believe it either.
“I only play the lottery now and again, but because it was such a big jackpot I decided to put a couple of quid on it. I thought I would give it a go mid-week but I didn’t pick the number myself, I just went for the lucky dip.”
Mr Hassall’s numbers were 07, 13, 22, 28, 32, with lucky stars 05, 08 while the winning numbers were 06, 12, 21, 27, 33, with lucky stars 03, 07.
Despite his misfortune Mr Hassall said that he would be playing again next week and might even go with the same lucky dip numbers.
He added: “I put a bit of money on the week before and had three numbers which got me £10.
“I think I might play again this week but I just can’t believe I came so close.”
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so basicly he never got a single number,close or not no numbers is no number lol.
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I’m sorry but you may as well be one number out, or forty out. Is this really news-worthy?
Yes, the Fella missed out on a share of £121 million, but then again so did millions of others. In fact some people actually won some money.
*rolls eyes*
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This is a new low in non-stories for the Star.
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Double negative, maybe ?
Surely this a new high in non-stories.
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This remind me of of when I came close to winning the big one on the very first night of the very first draw! The bloke next door won it! You can’t get any closer then that can you?
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just like this comment, what a waste of time this story is
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God is the press so desperate for news that they print a story about some old guy not getting the correct numbers for the lottery and portray it as if he was close to winning a share. Loads of us fail to get the correct numbers week in week out, why is this guy so special.REMEMBER THERE IS NO CLOSE IN A NATIONAL LOTTERY, IT’S ALL ABOUT YOUR NUMBERS COMING UP.
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I had a ticket that matched two numbers & one star, which statistically speaking is closer to being a winning ticket than Mr Hassall’s…
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There’ll no doubt be a handful of pedants eager to point out that statistically it’s as far away from the winning numbers as any other set of non-matching numbers, so Mr Hassall’s ticket wasn’t even close to being a winner. Can I just make it clear that I’m not one of them?
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Almost news then ?
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Statistically you stand more chance of dying in the 30 mins before a lottery draw takes place than winning it.
Statistically, by still being alive, Mr Hassall is actually very lucky indeed.
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I’m still chuckling at this comment
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I didn’t but a ticket and still got the same amount of numbers correct as this guy! Do you think the Shrop Star will print a story about me too?
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ace!
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i didnt buy a ticket so therefore i was as close as Mr Hassall too
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Leave the poor bloke alone. Hes had enough bad luck with out you lot having a go.
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Not bad enough luck as to have come from Yorkshire. So not all bad luck then.
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well if the guy didnt want people to take the ‘mick’ then why did he send the shrop star a ‘non story’
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Lots of People lose on the lottery every week.
Its not news.
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Im once bought a lottery ticket in Shrewswbury, and I picked all the numbers myself. I didnt match any, so can I be in the paper next week please
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I’ve a potato that looks like a carrot…or is it a parsnip?
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If this is such a non-story, why is it currently fourth in the most commented list? presumably only three other things have happenned in Shropshire this week!
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I nearly won the lottery once but forgot to buy a ticket
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It’s all cracking off in Shropshire
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Absolutely priceless, we salute both Mr Hassall for submitting this piece (wont call it news) and the Shropshire Star for publishing it. I did wonder how Mr H was going to keep the same ‘lucky-dip’ numbers.
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Easy…..write them down and copy to a new slip! D’Oh!
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The only way to win the game … is not to play.
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