Lottery winners Malcolm and Gloria Mercer are set for life

A week ago, Malcolm Mercer had time to kill in the TC Square mall in Carbonear while his wife Gloria Mercer was having her hair done. So he bought a cup of tea and two Set for Life lottery tickets.

He couldn't believe his eyes after he scratched one of the tickets. The couple is now $675,000 richer.

"I didn't believe it," says Malcolm Mercer.

The couple retired in Carbonear about eight years ago on a modest pension. They had previously lived in Labrador where Malcolm worked as a mechanical engineer.

They had recently talked about selling their house and downsizing to save money.

But the story has a happy ending according to Malcolm Mercer's sister Frances Halloran.

"Now he can keep the house and do whatever he wants and enjoy his life," said Halloran.

The Mercers chose to take the lump sum payment of $675,000 rather than $1,000 a week for 25 years. 

Earlier this year, there were two Set for Life top prize winners in Newfoundland and Labrador  — one from Petty Harbour and one from Corner Brook.