African migrant who risked life to reach Europe scoops €400,000 on Spain's Christmas lottery An African migrant who almost died sneaking into Spain in a wooden boat has won £300,000 in the nation’s Christmas Lottery . The 35-year-old Senegalese man named Ngagne and 65 others were plucked to safety by a lifeboat as they crossed the Mediterranean eight years ago. He married a fellow migrant and the pair have since worked as vegetable pickers in the southern seaside town of Roquetas de Mar. But Ngagne has now scooped a massive €400,000 in the famous El Gordo annual lottery. He said after the win: “I want to give thanks to Spaniards and the Spanish government for rescuing me when I was in the sea. “I just can’t believe this. Sometimes we haven’t had five euros a day between us.”