A man from Nain has struck it rich, winning $1 million on an Atlantic Lotto scratch ticket.

John Murphy found out he won the jackpot last Tuesday.

The winning ticket that made John Murphy a millionaire. The winning ticket that made John Murphy a millionaire. (CBC)

“I was really dumbfounded about it. I wasn’t really sure if it was real,” said Murphy.

“I had to double-check and triple-check. Once I found out it was legit, I was pretty beside myself.”

But he kept the news quiet for a full week, only telling a few close friends and relatives.

“It was pretty hard to sit on,” he said with a chuckle.

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He only let the word out on Tuesday, after he flew to Happy Valley-Goose Bay. On Wednesday, he took a flight to Moncton to pick up his cheque.

"I didn't want to tell anybody right away in Nain because it's such a small community and I knew I would've been pestered the whole time I would have been there," he said.

He says the publicity has made him a little uneasy at times.

“People are coming up and shaking my hand, which is surreal,” said Murphy. “I’m not used to all this attention.”

Murphy gave the winning ticket to the RCMP detachment in Nain for safe-keeping.

"They didn't have a safe, but they had a secure room," he said.

"That’s the safest place I figured it could be kept."

Murphy acknowledges the police were shocked with the request, but happy to help out.

Murphy plans to buy a house in Happy Valley-Goose Bay for his family, pay off some debts and take a trip to visit his brother and family.

“That’s all I got planned so far,” said Murphy.