Couple who ‘didn’t have much left to live on’ celebrate £119,000 EuroMillions prize

Martin Gilbey and his wife Tracy

(PA)

A couple who "didn’t have much left to live on” after Christmas are now celebrating their £119,000 EuroMillions prize win after a lucky trip to buy carrots for Sunday lunch.

Martin Gilbey, 50, from Northampton and his partner Tracy were discussing their tight finances after an expensive festive period, but decided they “still must have a Sunday roast.”

After noticing they were short on vegetables, Mr Gilbey went to the shop and bought a EuroMillions ticket to meet the minimum £3 purchase on his card.

He initially forgot that he had purchased the ticket, but after Tracy went to bed that night, he scanned it on the National Lottery app and discovered that he’d won the huge prize.

“At this point I was starting to get a bit hot under the collar, so I called Tracy to come downstairs to help,” he said.

“She cried out, ‘I’m not coming downstairs for a tenner’ but eventually looked at the ticket when she realised something was going on."

Mr Gilbey said they both checked the ticket again and after “many more scans” of the ticket, they started to “cry, cuddle and jump about.”

The Northampton native, who works at a glass and window manufacturing company, said he told his family the news over a Zoom call.

“I think some thought there was a problem, but I started the call by saying I had some great news,” he said. “Initially, many thought it was a practical joke, but soon we’re all cheering together.”

Mr Gilbey added: “I haven’t thought about buying anything, I just want to help my family. We’ve all had a tough year, and a little bit of help will make a big difference to them all.”

Read More

UK ticket-holder celebrates New Year with £39m EuroMillions jackpot

EuroMillions jackpot winners give half away to loved ones and charity

Largest ever EuroMillions jackpot of £175million rolls over to Friday