RAF worker in Northumberland wins £72k Aston Martin - but now faces life-changing decision
An RAF worker from Northumberland has been left stunned after discovering he had won a £72,000 Aston Martin DB11.
Ronnie McAvoy has served in the RAF for about seven years and was taking some out when he received some life-changing news.
Having recently started playing with online competition specialist BOTB again through its BOTB Pass, which automatically enters members into selected competitions,
Ronnie had absolutely no idea what he had won when presenter Christian Williams called him to reveal his stunning prize.
“No way! That is amazing, I love it,” he said, when he first caught a glimpse of it. “I never thought I would hear the words.”
Ronnie, 25, who lives in Sidcup in south-east London but is currently based at RAF Boulmer, near Alnwick, was joined on the call by a colleague, who initially didn't believe him when he explained that he had just won an Aston Martin.
The disbelief soon turned to excitement as Christian gave Ronnie, who works with radar systems, a virtual tour of the luxury sports car before firing up its V8 engine.
“That sounds amazing,” Ronnie said.
Speaking the day after the surprise reveal, Ronnie said he is still coming to terms with his unexpected win, with family, friends and colleagues already bombarding him with questions about his new-found fortune.
“I’m very happy,” Ronnie said. “I’ve had a BOTB account for a few years now but only recently started playing again, and it was genuinely the last thing I expected to hear yesterday.
“It was a really big surprise and I’m still processing it now. I was shaking the whole time with anticipation and it was truly an incredible reveal.
“Family, friends and colleagues have been asking me non-stop about the win.”
The win is particularly fitting for Ronnie, who is a keen gaming enthusiast. Three years ago, he met his girlfriend online while playing Call of Duty and now his gaming and online competition luck has delivered another unexpected surprise.
Ronnie currently lives on the RAF base and drives a Ford Fiesta, but the win could see him make a major change to his lifestyle.
He is currently undecided about whether to take the Aston Martin itself or opt for the cash alternative.
“I love the car, it’s a beautiful machine, but I’m leaning more towards taking the cash at the moment,” he said.
If he chooses the cash, Ronnie said it would allow him to move off base and buy his own property, potentially making the win life-changing in more ways than one.
Christian said: “Ronnie’s reaction was brilliant. Whatever he decides, it’s a huge result.”