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A former medic from the Royal Air Force is now able to settle his mortgage and eliminate his debts after winning a competition that only cost him £4.28 to enter. Ryan Briggs, 46, hails from Haverfordwest in Pembrokeshire and served in the RAF for 23 years, including deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. Following his military career, he transitioned into healthcare, working as a paramedic with the NHS during the Covid-19 crisis.
Ryan was presented with an option by Elite Competitions to choose between a 2026 Lamborghini Temerario, valued at approximately £270,000, or £300,000 in cash after his win. Opting for the more practical route, he selected the cash prize. “I can now reduce my hours [at work] in the future if I wanted to. I’m fit and healthy now, but that can change. It takes a lot of pressure off,” he shared.
His personal life is intertwined with the RAF as well; Ryan met his wife Kelly while both were serving in the Air Force at age 19. Kelly left the service soon after, planning to return to northern Scotland, but instead, the couple hastily married—a decision that has lasted happily for 27 years. Ryan credits his fascination with aircraft to childhood visits to RAF St Athan airshows with his father, sparking his desire to join the RAF.
During his career, beyond Iraq and Afghanistan, Ryan also served in the Caribbean during the devastation of Hurricane Irma in 2017, a storm that claimed 55 lives. Inspired by his mother’s nursing career in Pembrokeshire, he later switched to healthcare. After his competition win, Ryan and Kelly flew by helicopter from Pembrokeshire to Blackpool Airport to make their prize selection. Ryan, who has piloted many RAF helicopters, noted this flight was safer and more comfortable than others he had experienced, and much cooler too. Despite being an avid fan of Lamborghinis, which he calls his “dream car,” he ultimately made the “sensible decision” to take the cash, planning to clear debts, pay off the mortgage, and provide for their two children. Ryan described paying off their home at 46 as a significant achievement.
Alex Beckett, the chief executive of Elite Competitions, acknowledged Ryan’s dedication, stating, “Knowing this prize will give them financial security after years of public service makes it an especially rewarding winning story.”
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