By Gareth Butterfield
A former bin man who has been struggling to earn money because of a back injury has won a 拢685,000 house and a 拢51,000 car after taking a chance on a 99p prize draw.
Can Kalkan, from Enfield, rents a room in a house shared with seven other people and he was completely shocked when presenters from the prize draw firm BOTB turned up to tell him he’d won a life-changing prize.
The 26-year-old’s total prize pot is worth 拢736,000, and he told presenters Christian Williams and Katie Knight it was his dream car – a BMW M4.
But the first thing he wanted to see as he arrived in the exclusive Silverlake development in Chichester was his brand new luxury four-bedroom home.
As he looked around the lavish interior, he said: “I鈥檓 so excited 鈥 I don鈥檛 know what to say. 鈥淢y life is going to change completely, and I鈥檓 very happy.
鈥淥ne day I dreamt I would win. None of my family or friends believed me until they saw my winner鈥檚 video.鈥
The house boasts 1,652 sq ft of luxury living space, a fully-fitted kitchen, and access to private lakes, countryside, and even a spa.
It鈥檚 just 15 minutes from the coast and sits in one of the region鈥檚 most sought-after new communities.
When he finally found time to eye up his new car, a high-performance sports car with a turbocharged engine, sleek design, and precision handling, he admitted: “I鈥檝e never had my own car before, and this is my dream car 鈥 I love everything about it, I can鈥檛 fault it.
Despite his love of the house and the car, Can is planning on taking the cash alternative 鈥 using the money to buy a smaller home in London and put the rest towards his savings.
Christian said: 鈥淐an was clearly emotional 鈥 and rightly so. To go from a house share to winning a prize worth over 拢700,000 is just incredible.
鈥淲hether he moves into the property or uses the cash alternative to buy closer to home, it鈥檚 going to be a massive step forward for him. We鈥檙e absolutely thrilled.鈥
Katie added: 鈥淚t was amazing to see Can take it all in 鈥 from stepping into the kitchen to sitting behind the wheel of the M4.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a life-changing moment for him and his sister, and we鈥檙e so happy to have been part of it.鈥
BOTB hands over the keys to a dream car each week, as well as offering lifestyle prizes such as holidays, cash, home makeovers, and tech.
The latest prizes on offer this week include a Porsche 911 Turbo Convertible for 6p a ticket, and a 拢725,000 holiday home in Dorset for 99p per ticket.
To find out more or to see all the prizes on offer, click here.