Northern Ireland man lands dream job as National Lottery prize tester

YACHT’S THE WAY TO DO IT FOR RYAN!!! 

Northern Ireland man lands dream job as National Lottery prize tester

WHEN it comes to jobs, they don’t come much better than being a prize tester for The National Lottery.  Just ask County Down man Ryan Hand who was asked  to ‘test drive’ a luxury yacht experience in the Mediterranean Sea ahead of Friday’s EuroMillions MegaFriday draw, which offers 10 people the chance to win the getaway for real.

Ryan, a comedian from Newcastle, was offered the chance to spend 48 hours on board the £2.5M Midnight Welcome yacht and share his experience first-hand, along with best mate Colin Rowntree, a demolition site manager also from Newcastle.

Their experience is up for grabs as part of this week’s EuroMillions Mega Friday draw in which 10 UK players are guaranteed to win £1M each and a chance to enjoy a private yacht getaway to either Turkey or Croatia with seven of their mates.

So what do these 10 lucky winners have to look forward to, according to Ryan?

“It was the most surreal experience ever,” said Ryan.  “It was a once in a lifetime trip for which words can’t really do any justice.  We felt like the Hollywood A-Listers you see in glossy magazines, waking up in the lap of luxury, being wined and dined like kings, and watching the sunset in the most picturesque surroundings imaginable.  It was like being in a movie.

“We dived into and swam in the clearest of blue turquoise water, sunbathed under the blazing Turkish sun while waiters brought us freshly squeezed orange juice and nuts, all this on board our very own 30 metre long floating palace – it was our little slice of paradise,” he added.

Having arrived in Turkey on the Friday night and taken to a marina, Ryan and Colin were then introduced to their crew, butler and chef who catered for their every need and treated them ‘like royalty’ for the whole weekend.

Ryan said that he had to keep pinching himself and asking if the experience was really happening.

“We were definitely living the dream,” he continued.  “Champagne, four-course breakfasts, lunch and dinner, I could seriously get used to the millionaire lifestyle!

“When we boarded the yacht for the first time I was like a giddy, excitable kid at Christmas, my whole body was pulsating with energy – I think the crew enjoyed laughing at our reactions.

“Friends and family won’t truly understand what we’ve just experienced – the sights, sounds and colours – but we have the memories.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I think this unforgettable experience would’ve happened to me and it’s one that I’d really like to thank EuroMillions for giving to me.

“Now I’m dreaming that I’ll be one of the 10 millionaires created this Friday night so I can do it all again!,” concluded Ryan.

The EuroMillions Mega Friday draws take place on the last Friday of each month.  They create multiple £1 million winners who will also receive life-changing prizes as they start their millionaire life.  Every Mega Friday winner has the choice of either taking the once-in-a-life-time prize, or a cash alternative.

Every week EuroMillions UK Millionaire Maker guarantees to create two UK millionaires – one on Tuesday and one on Friday.  For every EuroMillions line played, UK players automatically receive a UK Millionaire Maker code printed on their ticket.