A MILLIONAIRE returned to work at Lidl and drove lorries during the pandemic despite hitting the jackpot.
Steve Schiltz, 56, managed to hide the secret from his colleagues after answering a call to help out driving lorries during the pandemic.
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The father-of-six drove Lidl HGVs across Wales and the West Country to help customers stock up during Covid, even though he had already struck gold.
He claims he was inspired by wife Lesley, 56, who carried on working as a freelance health and social care trainer after the couple won their fortune on the EuroMillions raffle in 2019.
Wife Lesley says she loves work too much to pack up but has reduced her workload to four days a week, reports The Mirror.
Steve, from Swansea, said: “I used to be a lorry driver before winning the lottery and I had a letter asking me to go back.
“Lots of people with an HGV licence had the same letter from the Government but not many of them were lottery millionaires.
“It made me a key worker and I didn’t think twice – I was happy to help out and it was brilliant to be back in work.
“It meant that instead of money coming out of the bank account we had money coming in!”
Steve nearly lost his fortune after his 2019 win when he told officials he bought the ticket in the wrong shop.
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But he managed to overcome his nerves to remember where he purchased it and claim the £1million prize fund.
The humble couple only celebrated their win with a trip to the exotic Maldives and the purchase of a Range Rover Discovery.
But they still live in the same house and their largest expense has been for the financial future of their six kids and four grandkids.
Steve put down his good luck to his “guardian angel” daughter Theresa who tragically died of a heart attack aged 16.
He ran the London Marathon the following year in her memory and to raise funds for sick children.
Steve and Lesley still do the lottery every week and said if they win again they will donate it all to good causes.
Steve said: “We have been very lucky, it’s a wonderful feeling not to have any money worries any more.
“If we won again it would be nice to give it back to people.”
Andy Carter, Camelot Winners Adviser for The National Lottery said: “Millions of people across the UK played their part in supporting key services and their communities during the pandemic.
“Lottery winners were no different, with many undertaking numerous roles and activities to play their part.
“It has been heart-warming to see the contribution made by all of these people during such a difficult time for so many.”
