Knee op on list for lottery rollover winner

(Dave Thompson/PA Wire)

A joiner who was forced to give up work 15 years ago when he injured his knee said today that he can now afford an operation - after winning more than £11 million on the lottery.

Unemployed Peter Redikin, 50, from Cheadle Heath, Greater Manchester, had an accident in 1995 and could no longer work or play sport.

But he and his wife, Jacqueline, 48, won £11,178,334 in Wednesday night's double rollover draw, and he now plans to get his knee fixed.

He said: "I had an accident with my knee, I've not worked since.

"I can't do anything about it. Well, perhaps I can do something about it now!"

Mr Redikin said he thought he had "only won a tenner" when he first looked at his numbers - but soon realised he was in fact a multi-millionaire.

He said: "I was dumbstruck, I was shaking and crying, I didn't believe it at first.

"It feels a bit frightening at the moment. It is good to know we have got security for life but it is all just a bit frightening.

"We are going to treat the family and I want to upgrade my Seat Toledo. I've always wanted a brand new car and have never had the chance to get one."

The couple, who have two sons, warehouse worker Michael, 27, and plasterer Carl, 24, said they also want to go on the Orient Express with the winnings.

Mr Rediken had just dropped his Newcastle-born wife off at work at John Lewis's customer call centre when he sat down to check his numbers.

When he realised they had won the jackpot, he got straight on the phone to her.

"I was shaking like a leaf but I managed to call Jacqueline at work. She couldn't understand me because I couldn't get my words out and she kept telling me to calm down.

"When I told her we'd won the jackpot she wouldn't believe me and thought I must be wrong," he said.

Manchester United football fan Mr Redikin said it felt "fantastic" to be presented with the cheque on the pitch at Old Trafford.

He might be tempted to splash out on a season ticket to watch the Reds, he added.

The lucky numbers were 14, 17, 22, 24, 38 and 43 - the same line the couple have been playing since the Lotto started.

Mr Redikin said the operation on his knee will give him "a new lease of life".

The father-of-two snapped his cruciate ligament in a fall at work, and has been living off disability benefits for the last 15 years.

His knee is "very unstable" and gives way after swelling up, he said, and he had to give up playing football.

He said: "I have been on the phone to the benefits office this morning to tell them about my good fortune.

"They were very pleased, I won't be needing them anymore.

"I will be able to do things I haven't been able to do since my accident and can have an active lifestyle again."