Death Revealed Two Years After Lottery Win
Cause of Death Reported as Complications from Drug Addiction
Sentenced to Prison After Being Caught Hosting Drug Parties
It was belatedly revealed that a man in his twenties from Australia, who had won a 22 million Australian dollar lottery, died from drug addiction. On June 10 (local time), international media outlets including the New Zealand Herald reported that Joshua Winslet, who had been working as a plumber in New Zealand and won a lottery prize of 22 million Australian dollars (approximately 19.6 billion KRW) in 2018, died suddenly in 2022. The cause of death was recently determined to be complications from excessive drug use.
A framed lottery winning commemorative photo inside Winslet's Adelaide home, taken during a 2020 raid by South Australia (SA) Police. Photo by SA Police
Previously, at the end of 2022, Winslet was found dead at his home in Adelaide. At the time, his death was barely reported by local media. Recently, however, a close acquaintance informed the press, bringing the story to public attention. Winslet had suffered from two rare diseases since birth. Because of this, he was bullied at school, eventually dropping out and starting work as a plumbing apprentice. Living in Australia, he moved to New Zealand in search of more work opportunities. One day, using the last of his money in his bank account, Winslet bought a lottery ticket and, as the sole winner, claimed a prize worth billions of KRW.
When he first received the winnings, he managed his assets by investing in a trust operated by his parents and purchasing investment properties in both Australia and New Zealand. However, after quitting his plumbing job following the lottery win, he soon began using drugs. Winslet became unable to escape drug use, frequently hosting drug parties at his home. In 2020, after police responded to reports of drug parties at his residence and raided his house, they found 30 grams of MDMA (ecstasy) and 2.27 grams of cocaine.
Subsequently, in August 2022, an Australian court sentenced Winslet to three years and nine months in prison on charges including supplying MDMA and possessing an unlicensed firearm. However, Winslet posted bail and received a two-year suspended sentence. Photos of Winslet's home released by the court at the time showed trash and clothing scattered throughout the house, with drugs and drug paraphernalia also present in various places.
Interior view of Winslet's Adelaide residence captured by South Australia (SA) police during a raid in 2020. Photo by SA Police
However, Winslet, who ultimately could not quit drugs, saw his life rapidly fall apart. His drug use also gradually severed his relationships with those around him. A friend of Winslet stated, "I sincerely tried to help Winslet, but there were many people around him who only wanted to use him to get drugs." Just a few months after his release, he was found dead at his home. The cause of death was drug addiction. Although his death was not made public at the time, it was recently revealed through testimony from an acquaintance.
Meanwhile, in order to prevent drug addiction, which destroyed Winslet's life after his sudden lottery windfall, accurate information and prior awareness are crucial. Simple curiosity or peer pressure can be the starting point of addiction. If symptoms of addiction have already begun, seeking professional help as early as possible is the safest course of action. Counseling, medication, and rehabilitation programs are key treatment methods for recovery. In addition, support from family and friends plays a significant role.
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