
Winners of biggest ever £213m EuroMillions jackpot reveal risky move that could have seen them lose the LOT
After winning a staggering £213,000,000, a family syndicate took a unique measure to protect their golden ticket.
The family, who won the money as a syndicate, described the experience as "surreal".
Their good fortune came about as one of the family members ran an errand in Co. Cork and decided to buy a EuroMillions ticket.
"Although I'm a regular player, I hadn't bought a ticket for the last two draws. I picked one up and honestly, didn't think much of it," they said.
The impromptu purchase changed the family's lives forever.
"I was watching the Nine O'Clock News and saw that someone in Ireland had the winning EuroMillions ticket," the lucky winner continued.
"So naturally, I got my ticket and scanned it on the National Lottery app, and a message popped up, 'You've won big, contact the National Lottery.'"
"I ran upstairs to my wife who had just gone to bed and woke her up," the winner said.
"We both checked the numbers multiple times on the website."
They explained that "sleep was out of the question that night" as the disbelief turned to excitement.
The couple set an early alarm to contact the National Lottery, and soon received the life-changing confirmation.
I won the EuroMillions lucky dip and I only thought I'd scored a few pounds when I got a lottery alert
Ticket precautions
While they waited to cash in, the family took extra precautions to protect their winning ticket.
However, their unique move proved potentially risky as they concealed it within an A4 sheet before placing it under a stack of laundry.
It remained in the pile of clothes in their bedroom until it could be safely delivered to the National Lottery.
Luckily, all the family members were too overwhelmed to start household chores.
While the couple made sure not to touch the laundry, they took time to process their massive win.
Everything you need to know about Lottery and EuroMillions
What happens to the EuroMillions prize money if no one claims it?
Who are the biggest UK EuroMillions winners ever?
Who is Britain's youngest Lottery winner Callie Rodgers?
How many times can the EuroMillions jackpot rollover?
Which is the easiest Lottery to win?
What are the odds of winning the EuroMillions jackpot?
What happens when you win the Euromillions lottery?
What are the biggest lottery jackpots in the world?
Horoscope luck: Which star sign is most likely to win the lottery?
Big plans
The lucky family members made a conscious effort to maintain normalcy, continuing with their daily routines despite the news.
They even sought independent legal and financial advice after handing over the winning ticket.
They revealed plans for a family getaway, and are already researching holiday homes.
"We love to travel and there's so many amazing trips we've always dreamed of that we can now make a reality," they said.
"We're already looking at holiday homes somewhere in the sun.
"We also feel incredibly fortunate now to be in a position where we can buy homes for our children too."
One syndicate member added: "I always dreamed of owning a Rolex watch, knowing that I could never afford it.
"I went window shopping last week just to have a look and couldn't believe the price tag of some of the watches.
"When I phoned my wife to tell her, she said 'sure you can buy them now if you want'. I don't think the news has really sunk in yet."
Despite the substantial win, the family shared their plans to stay normal, with one member quipping: "I'll still be having my favourite ham and cheese sambo for lunch every day!"
More Lotto stories
While the family took care of their golden ticket, not everyone has been so lucky, here's a round-up of winners who have lost their tickets.
One scratchcard winner lost out on his winnings after his dog got a hold of the ticket.
Another person who won a jackpot worth millions explained how he lost out on the money over a technicality.
And a map reveals all the current unclaimed winnings across the UK.
One family searched everywhere when they couldn't find their million-pound winning lottery ticket.
2

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Sun
27 minutes ago
- The Sun
Threesomes with my partner are on her terms as she refuses to let another woman join us… what should I do?
DEAR DEIDRE: MY partner is happy to have threesomes with other men, but she refuses to let another woman join us for sex. It doesn't feel fair and it's making me very insecure. What should I do? We've been together for five years and are both in our early 30s. Our sex life fell into a rut last year. She was never in the mood and said it was because it had become boring. So we discussed ways of spicing things up. My partner suggested having threesomes, which I agreed to try. I found talking about it a turn-on but, if I'm honest, I wasn't overly keen on bringing other people into bed with us. I mainly said I'd go along with it because I didn't want to risk losing her. She told me there was nothing to worry about and that she would organise it. My girlfriend said she knew a couple of guys who'd be up for threesomes and invited them round on different nights. I genuinely did enjoy the experience the first few times. Seeing her in ecstasy with another man was exciting, although I didn't want him to touch me as I'm not bisexual. And after the other guy left, my partner and I had great sex. But when I asked if we could start to invite women, too, she said, 'No way!'. She actually got annoyed that I'd asked. How is that fair? I've now started to worry she's using the threesomes as a way of having sex with other men with my permission, rather than as part of our relationship. Sometimes, she gets so into it with the other guy that I might as well not be there. I've realised I'm not happy about this situation any more but when I try to talk to her about it, she just says that I agreed, so it's too late to change my mind. What should I do? DEIDRE SAYS: You may have agreed but that was before you understood what these threesomes would actually be like. Regardless, when it comes to sex, you're entitled to change your mind or withdraw consent at any time. You're unhappy, insecure and questioning her motives, but your partner won't even discuss your request to invite another woman into your bedroom. This is all on her terms. I know you're scared to lose her but it's not healthy to go along with something you don't enjoy out of fear. My support pack, Thinking Of A Threesome, explains the pitfalls of this type of arrangement. Talk to her again. If she loves you, she'll understand, put a stop to the threesomes and try to find other ways to improve your sex life. There are ideas in my support pack, 50 Ways To Add Fun To Sex. THANK YOU FOR... HELP BEING FIRM ON FELLA'S ILL HEALTH My relationship with my new man was getting serious but I couldn't handle him neglecting his wellbeing. He is 43, I'm 45, and we had been together for a year when I wrote to you. Despite niggling symptoms, pain and tummy troubles, my partner refused to see his GP – so I blocked contact with him. He said it was ridiculous but I couldn't bear the thought of losing him, too. You didn't think I was overreacting, though. You understood why his behaviour was so triggering and told me that men are often loath to seek medical help. You advised me to read your support pack, Standing Up For Yourself, talk to him again and ask him gently but firmly to see his doctor. You also suggested I get counselling for my anxiety. Nothing changed and, after a lot of thought, I decided to end our relationship and friend-zone him. It wasn't just his health problems, but also his refusal to see how it was affecting us. Thank you for your advice. It helped me find clarity in a difficult situation. Hopefully, as a friend, and from an emotional distance, you can persuade your ex to see a doctor. TEENAGE TROUBLES DEAR DEIDRE: WHENEVER I bring myself to an orgasm, I can't stop crying. I'm a 19-year-old girl and I often pleasure myself in bed or in the shower. I really enjoy it and it feels amazing. But every time I reach climax, I find myself unable to stop sobbing. Once, my sister overheard me crying and knocked on my bedroom door to ask if I was OK. I don't understand why I burst into tears as I don't feel sad. Am I normal? DEIDRE SAYS: Try not to worry. You're perfectly normal and healthy. Orgasm is a physical release – and so is crying. Masturbation can be intense and overwhelming, especially when it's a new experience. It's likely that over time this will settle down. But if it doesn't, that's fine too. My support pack, Worried About Masturbation?, should help reassure you. SHE'S CUT ME OUT OF MY GRANDCHILDREN'S LIVES DEAR DEIDRE: IT'S my grandson's eighth birthday next week but I don't know if I should send him a present. My daughter won't let me see either of my grandchildren and I'm heartbroken. She's trying to poison them against me and cut me out of their lives. I'm a widow of 67 and my two grandchildren are precious to me. But my daughter, 40, has decided she doesn't want me around her son and daughter. She has a childless, older colleague and says she is more of a grandma to her children than I have ever been. They even call her 'Nanna'. I can't imagine how confusing this must be. I retired recently, but while I was working full-time – as well as caring for my late husband – it meant I wasn't around to help with the grandchildren much. Even so, I tried to see them when I could and I've always sent them gifts and cards. Now I have much more time to spare and I want to spend time with them. I've offered to pick them up from school, take them to museums and the cinema, and look after them overnight. But my daughter says it's too late, they don't need me, and she doesn't want me in their lives. I desperately want to send my grandson a birthday present but I'm worried how my daughter will react. DEIDRE SAYS: Losing contact with the grandchildren must be so tough on you. It's not fair on you or the kids for your daughter to keep you apart. Perhaps there's something deeper going on here, which she hasn't told you about. Try appealing to her again. Consider writing a letter, so you can get all your thoughts down without rowing. Ask her to give you another chance for the children's sake. Do send the gift. Even if she doesn't pass it on right now, you'll have done the right thing. In the meantime, you could contact a group that helps people in your situation. NO MONEY FOR MY KIDS DEAR DEIDRE: WHEN my father died, he left money in his will for all of his grandchildren – except for my kids. My sister was his favourite, and her children got tens of thousands each. I'm so upset about this, and don't know what to say to them. I'm a 58-year-old man and have two children, aged 32 and 29. My father was 89 when he died last year. He was fairly wealthy, so I assumed my children would each inherit a large sum. They both have young families and student debts, and could really do with financial help, which I can't provide. But when the will was read, I was horrified to discover he'd left my kids nothing at all. My dad and I had a difficult relationship, but reconciled towards the end and I didn't think he'd take it out on the next generation. Their cousins each have £25,000. My kids say they don't care but I know they're hurt – and I am fuming at the injustice. What should I do? DEIDRE SAYS: When wills are unfair, it can cause so much damage to family relationships. You're angry with your dad but you obviously can't tell him. You're also hurt about the way he treated you and your children too, but there's nowhere for this emotion to go. This is a type of grief known as disenfranchised grief. It would help to talk to someone about your feelings. See my support pack, Coping With Bereavement, for information on where to get help. Try not to make your children share your anger, or feel jealous of their cousins, so the cycle of resentment ends with you.


The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
EuroMillions results and numbers: National Lottery draw tonight, July 25
THE draw for tonight's National Lottery EuroMillions (July 25, 2025) has taken place, with life-changing cash prizes at stake. Check the results to see if you have just won a fortune and bagged enough to start that jet-set lifestyle you always dreamed of. Every EuroMillions ticket also bags you an automatic entry into the UK Millionaire Maker, which guarantees at least one player will pocket £1million in every draw. You can find out if you're a winner by checking your ticket against tonight's numbers below. Tonight's National Lottery EuroMillions winning numbers are: 06, 07, 23, 32, 36 and the Lucky Stars are: 11, 12. The UK Millionaire Maker Selection winner is: VDKF07947. Tonight's National Lottery Thunderball winning numbers are: 24, 31, 35, 36, 39 and the Thunderball is 01 TOP 5 BIGGEST LOTTERY WINS IN THE WORLD £1.308 billion (Powerball) on January 13 2016 in the US, for which three winning tickets were sold, remains history's biggest lottery prize £1.267 billion (Mega Million) a winner from South Carolina took their time to come forward to claim their prize in March 2019 not long before the April deadline £633.76 million (Powerball draw) from a winner from Wisconsin £625.76 million (Powerball) Mavis L. Wanczyk of Chicopee, Massachusetts claimed the jackpot in August 2017 £575.53 million (Powerball) A lucky pair of winners scooped the jackpot in Iowa and New York in October 2018 The first EuroMillions draw took place on February 7, 2004, by three organisations: France's Française des Jeux, Loterías y Apuestas del Estado in Spain and the Camelot in the UK. One of the UK's biggest prizes was up for grabs on December, 4, 2020 with a whopping £175million EuroMillions jackpot, which would make a winner richer than Adele. Another previous UK winner who's whole life was altered with their jackpot was a player who wanted to remain anonymous on October 8, 2019. They walked off with a cool £170,221,000. Colin and Chris Weir, from Largs in Scotland, netted a huge £161,653,000 in the July 12, 2011. Adrian and Gillian Bayford, from Haverhill, Suffolk, picked up £148,656,000 after they played the draw on August, 10, 2012, while Jane Park became Britain's youngest lottery winner when she scooped up £1 million in 2013. The odds of winning any EuroMillions prize are 1 in 13. Could tonight's jackpot of £119million see you handing in your notice and swapping the daily commute for slurping champagne on a super yacht or lying back on a private beach in the Bahamas? 2


The Guardian
5 hours ago
- The Guardian
Cosy cooking: six fragrant, flavourful braises and stews
Patience is its own reward when it comes to slow cooking. The smells are tantalising and the rich flavours make for great leftovers. What better way to spend a winter day? (Pictured above) From marinating the beef to creating a spice bag with a muslin cloth, each step of this hearty Vietnamese classic adds another layer of flavour. As the beef, aromatics and liquids simmer away, the richness of the bò kho comes to life. Serve it with either a crispy baguette or fresh egg noodles. Pham recommends adding extra beef stock if you opt for the latter, to make it a more 'slurpable experience'. This traditional and homely dish from Romania sings with 'sweet-tangy notes', says Georgescu. Two whole leeks (including the dark green parts) are cooked down with coriander seeds for 15-25 minutes. These are then combined with white wine, vegetable stock and chopped tomatoes. At the end, she stirs through lemon juice and olives. Georgescu serves hers with bread, burghul wheat or rice. This one pan dish is a weeknight staple in Hayden's household, with a stamp of approval from both adults and little ones. Not only a confirmed 'lipsmacker', it's also ridiculously simple, with a base that's made up of pantry staples – black beans and chopped tomatoes. After frying all the ingredients, they bubble down together in the oven, so ensure your pan is oven safe. Hayden serves it with tortillas, sour cream and lime-y avocado, but she says 'anything goes'. These 'pickled potatoes' are salt and vinegar chips without the packet. Although they're not actually pickled, they are cooked in a way that mimics the taste thanks to a mixture of lemon juice and cumin, turmeric and curry leaves. Place them on a bed of yoghurt rice and with some salty Indian gooseberry pickles if on hand – they're Sodha's favourite accompaniment for this dish. A winter staple, the carrot is utilised to its full glory in this one-tray bake. 'You're getting two ingredients for the price of one,' says Hunt, who uses the leafy tops to create a tangy chermoula (a herby, oily North African sauce) to accompany the stew. The body of the carrot is separated and baked with a variety of Moroccan spices until 'hot and bubbling'. Serve straight from the tray, with couscous and yoghurt on the side. Slow and steady wins the race in this 'uniquely Bahraini' dish, which takes at least four hours to prepare. Murad says 'all the good stuff happens' at the bottom of the pot. That good stuff includes juicy and tender chicken blanketed by spicy potatoes, onion, tomato and saffron-infused rice. The final act? When fully cooked through and settled, put a platter on top of the pan and invert the rice mixture on to it.