Grandfather discovers $24m winning lottery ticket in old shirt two days before deadline expires

Ticket was almost a year old when the 68-year-old claimed his prize

Jimmie Smith claimed $24 million two days before the prize expired (New York Lottery)

A 68-year-old from New Jersey has won $24 million (£18 million) in the lottery after finding the missing ticket in an old shirt.

Jimmie Smith had bought the tickets nearly a year ago, and claimed his prize with just two days to go before its expiry date.

The grandfather told lottery officials he had been buying tickets in New York and New Jersey for the last fifty years, but was never in a rush to check them.

“I ended up with a pile of tickets, including the one they were talking about on the news,” said Mr Smith in a profile published on the New York Lottery website.

“I stood there for a minute thinking, ‘Do I see what I think I see?”

I had to stick my head out the window and breathe in some fresh air. I was in serious doubt. I really had to convince myself this was real.”

He has chosen to receive his payment in instalments spaced out over 26 years.

Asked about how he would spend the money, the retired security guard said he wanted to have a discussion with his whole family before making any decisions.

The highest ever single winner of the New York Lottery was Harold Diamond, who collected $326 million in 2014.