9/11 hero wins $5 million NY Lottery prize

Jul 2, 2015, 11:30 am (24 comments)

New York Lottery

A New York City firefighter forced to retire due to Ground Zero ailments won a $5 million jackpot with a New York Lottery scratch-off ticket.

Carmelo Mercado, of Harriman in Orange County, New York, hit paydirt with a $20 "Cash X 100" ticket, sources said.

Mercado, 63, a retired member of FDNY Battalion 49 in Astoria, said he had initially purchased one ticket, but then decided on a whim to purchase another — which won.

"I was in shock," he said. "I couldn't believe it, to be honest with you. I didn't sleep for two days after it happened. My mind went totally blank."

Mercado, who receives a $91,000-a-year pension, will get a $3.3 million lump-sum payout after taxes from his lottery win.

He said he was among The Bravest who rushed to the World Trade Center on 9/11, and came down with lung ailments after long hours working on the pile.

His condition forced his retirement, and he's a beneficiary of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, which provides continued funding for health-care programs for firefighters, cops and others hit by 9/11-related ailments.

The father of three adult children and a 10-year-old says his experiences made him more of a risk-taker.

"After 9/11 sometimes you just have to be reckless; you never know."

News story photo(Click to display full-size in gallery)

NY Post

Comments

Raven62's avatarRaven62

Congratulations!

sully16's avatarsully16

Nice, Congrats to the Brave Man.

music*'s avatarmusic*

 Congratulations to the Courageous !!    Will any LP Member react the same way he initially did ? Stunned and thoughtless ? Shocked    Sleepless for two days !!

music*'s avatarmusic*

CNN's The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer just featured this story. Carmela Mercado was shown with NY's Lottery spokesperson Yolando Vega . All smiles everywhere.

wizeguy's avatarwizeguy

Congrats Mr Mercado and thanks for your years of service to your city!

noise-gate

The Absolute best news l have read from LP so far this year..Way to go Carmelo..

Party

DG1USA

Thank you for your service and sacrifice Mr. Mercado. Congratulations to the Mercado family.PatriotHurray!

ElinaSammy2081's avatarElinaSammy2081

Congratulations Mr Mercado on his win.

Gleno's avatarGleno

Could not have gone to a more deserving civil servant. Congrats to Mr. Mercado.

US Flag

Technut's avatarTechnut

Congratulations Carmelo Mercado on your win and thanks for your service to your city.

BellasBMWLucki

Felicidades! CONGRATS. . . !

Senor mercado y' que dios te bendiga siempre ...CheersTu nena es hermosa awww que chulo .. how  cute she is so sweet, i am tearin' up in the eyes learning of this. I REALLY am."

God shall forever, bless us who are good people and not haters,or bullies in life and those

who give their all to better OUR communites,who PROTECT us, and heroes,and other good beautiful people en vida.

 

Ahora...(now) i hope he utilize his winnings prudently,make it last for him and the familia.

awww so happy for him.adios... noche.

PrisonerSix

Fantastic! Glad to see someone like this, a true hero, win.

VenomV12

Every once in awhile the universe does the right thing. Glad a good man won it. Congratulations. I can't even begin to imagine what he went through. 

HaveABall's avatarHaveABall

Group HugCongratulations Carmello, on another huge financial haul for you and yours!

It's amazing how a New York City firefighter forced to retire [way early] due to Ground Zero ailments can receive:  a good monthly disability income, a great monthly pension income, a great fully-paid full-family health and dental insurance plan, another child, renewed vitality, and a multi-million net lump-sum jackpot payoff from the NY Lottery Headquarters!

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