A FORGETFUL grandfather who mistakenly entered the same lottery drawing three times has come up a triple winner and will take home nearly $500,000 thanks to what he called the "luckiest bungle" ever.

 

The suburban Sydney man went overseas for his 60th birthday and put in a Multiweek Lotto entry to cover the following three weeks, the New South Wales Lotteries agency said.

 

But unsure his coupon would cover all draws of the multiple lottery, the man had a friend put in another entry. On his return from holiday, the man then entered again, forgetting he was already in the draw.

 

His numbers came up and he won $494,326.

 

"Having the same entry three times was not done intentionally and can only be described as the luckiest bungle we have ever made," the man said in a statement issued through NSW Lotteries.

 

"I am due to retire soon so the money from winning Lotto three times in one night will certainly make a big difference."

That lucky bastard.