Canadian man forced to split $5 million lottery jackpot with himself

A Canadian man has had the happy dilemma of having to split a $5.39 million lottery prize with himself after accidently buying two tickets in the same draw.

Andrew Burke of Alberta, used the same numbers on two tickets into the local Lotto 6-49 jackpot, winning the entirety of the C$5 million (A$5.39m) jackpot.

He found out about his luck when he visited his local petrol station where he bought the tickets.

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"The owner walked in and said 'what have you done Andy, have you broken my machine?'" Mr Burke told lottery officials.

"The clerk then told me 'you've won $2.5 million' – and I said she better check that other ticket, because it's the same numbers!"

Mr Burke had been playing the same numbers for years, saying he also went with family birthdays.

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With his new-found riches he plans to tell his employer he is on "permanent vacation" and will use the windfall to finally plug the oil leaks on his aging Land Rover.

"At $5 million, I think I'll give someone else a chance," Mr Burke said.

"All I wanted out of the lottery was to be able to retire comfortably, keep up on the house, and have my Land Rover restored. I don't need anything else.

"I have everything I need."

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