Most EuroMillions winners are able to claim their prizes immediately, but because John is the Chief Mechanic on an oil rig and he travelled to the rig for an extended stay on the day of the draw, the couple had to wait five weeks to make their claim. The situation also meant that John had to receive news of their win by telephone.
“My wife Angela checked our ticket the day after the draw, at which point I was working offshore,” John explained. “When she called to tell me I just couldn’t believe it – I was in shock.”
With John on the oil rig, Angela was left alone with the winning ticket for five long weeks. “Those five weeks felt like the longest of my life,” she said. “I kept the ticket locked away in a safe, but kept going back to check the numbers again and again to make sure it was real.”
Of course, keeping a second-tier prize win completely secret for five weeks is a bit of a tall order, so Angela shared the news with the people who were closest to them. “I told close friends and family,” she said, “but it was only when John arrived back on shore it really sunk in we’d won. We were thrilled!”
The couple now intend to pay off their mortgage, invest in home improvements and treat themselves and their three young children to a trip to Florida. We hope they enjoy their holiday and the rest of their six-figure fortune in due course!
The EuroMillions jackpot rolled over on Tuesday 2 August, so the jackpot this Friday 5 August will be worth an estimated €26 million (around £23 million). Play EuroMillions online today if you fancy your chances of winning and good luck!