A laid-off worker surnamed Zhang in Changsha of Hunan Province struck it rich in a lottery, thanks to a computer mistake made by a clerk.

Zhang started buying lottery tickets two years ago, spending 4 yuan (49 US cents) to buy two groups of numbers each time. But he never got lucky.

Last Tuesday, Zhang spent 12 yuan (US$1.52) to buy a lottery ticket once again, using the numbers for gambling in the past. The clerk input the lucky number of 4361447 as 2361447, making Zhang the winner of 5 million yuan (US$635,283).

Zhang’s wife died in an accident two years ago and he was laid off last year. His son is a primary school student.

Zhang said he would use the money to start a business and make their life better through hard work.

By Sun Tzu on 02-11-2006