A FAMILY who fled war and refugee camps in Africa have won a £2.2 million lottery prize.
Aristide Nininahazwe and his partner Esther Mboneye won a luxury house worth £1.5 million plus around £700,000 in cash on the lottery in Australia – but plan to keep working.
The couple, originally from Burundi, broke down in tears as they were handed the keys to the property at Beck Street at Henley Beach, Adelaide.
Their single winning ticket was among 200,000 sold in the Hospital Research Foundation Group Home Lottery, 7News reports.
They said that as healthcare workers they bought a ticket because they simply wanted to give back to the medical research charity.
The couple were told the life changing news in call from a radio station live on air, to which Aristide replied: “You’re joking.”
An emotional Esther later told Australia’s Sunrise show: “I still can’t believe it – why us?
READ MORE ON AUSTRALIA
Moment driver fakes being cop by flashing blue lights to scare other car
Chilling details as decomposing bodies of two sisters are found in flat
"I feel like I do not deserve this. I’m just trying to take everything in. It’s so beautiful.”
The couple and their three-year-old daughter Tiffany were givenn a tour of their new home before they move there in two-and-a-half weeks.
That’s just in time for the birth of their baby boy, who is due in August.
Esther, who is a nurse, had come to Australia as a refugee with her parents in 2005.
Originally from Burundi, her parents had left amid conflict in the 1970s for the Congo, where Esther was born some years later.
Most read in News
KILLED IN AIRPORT CHAOS Disabled easyJet passenger falls to his death at Gatwick Airport
Why is language being de-gendered to avoid upsetting trans people?
Huge 15ft crocodile stalks terrified Brits at popular beach resort
Lad, 4, killed after losing control of mini motorbike & hitting metal pole
But when civil war broke out there they made their way to Australia.
Separately, Aristide a disability support worker, fled fighting in Burundi in 2011 and met Esther at a wedding in 2014.
He said with the money he has won he can now finally visit his family. who he's not seen in 20 year.
The couple were in tears as they were shown their new home with Tiffany.
'We've been working hard for us to have a better life, because we used to move from one country to another, and it was war after war,' Esther told Nine News.
Their new home has four bedrooms, an open-plan kitchen, resort-style pool, games room and a built-in barbecue.
Read More on The Sun
Love Island fans call ‘sneaky & sly’ Tasha the ‘biggest game player in the villa’
I’ve given birth to ‘Ed Sheeran’s’ baby… I named her after the singer’s wife
The master bedroom consists of a make-up station, walk-in wardrobe, ensuite and skylights.
The couple won’t have to spend anything on furniture as the house coming fully furnished including state-of-the-art appliances and a billiard table
Source: Read Full Article