AN ILFORD skydiver, who won £1million on the lottery, jumped out of a plane with his winning ticket in his pocket before claiming his prize.

George Traykov, 43, once a member of the Bulgarian National Sky Diving Team, decided that jumping with a winning ticket was the perfect way to celebrate his good fortune.

His sky-diving friends also benefitted, as George stocked up the beer fridge at the airfield where he skydives.

He said; “It’s a tradition at the airfield that anyone who reaches a milestone such as their hundredth jump, must buy everyone a beer.”

But George, who works as a housekeeping manager at the Princess Grace Hospital in London, was back at work the following day and says he has no plans to quit his day job after winning the jackpot on September 6.

He told the Guardian: “I will buy myself a new parachute, but that’s it.

“I’m shocked that people think I would give up my job.

“I love my work and I get on well with my colleagues. Why would I want to leave?”

Such is his dedication to his work that George even went in this Sunday to make up for the time he took off to pick up his cheque from Camelot.

He added: “I take my responsibilities seriously.

“I manage the cleaning team at the hospital, but I still pick up a mop if I have to, and that won’t change.”

But workaholic George does plan to take the time to spend some of his winnings.

He wants to pay for his 12-year-old daughter, who lives with his ex-wife in south London, to go to private school.

He explained: “My daughter is very excited.

“I have told her I will help her, but she must work hard.

“Money doesn’t make you a better person. Hard work makes you a better person.”

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