Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Lynn Love

Family of Scots postcode lottery winner who died after breaking neck in tragic fall collect £8k winnings

The family of a Scots man who died in a tragic accident before finding out he had won the Postcode Lottery have collected thousands of pounds in his honour.

Andrew Gillon, from Wishaw, passed away during surgery at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Glasgow on January 7.

The 59-year-old had fallen down the stairs and broke his neck at a friend's house on New Years Day.

He underwent an operation days later in a bid for doctors to take pressure off the break when he died unexpectedly.

Andrew's heartbroken daughter Lisa Thomas, 33, was shocked to find out her dad had been selected as a winner of Scotland's biggest single Postcode Lottery's jackpot, despite her stopping his payments the month before.

The Scottish Water worker had been playing the competition for several years and was sent a golden envelope along with the rest of the players on his former street at Shaw Crescent, Wishaw.

Lisa, from Hamilton, and Andrew's grandchildren Connor, Farrah and Aspen, collected his share of the £7.9m at an event in Glasgow last weekend and were delighted to find out he had won £8092.

The family said it was the last gift from Andrew.

Lisa added: "We're all delighted. Farrah was crying her eyes out for hours after she found out how much dad had won.

"We haven't really spoken about what we're exactly going to do with all the money yet, but probably a holiday to Florida.

"That's where we got married and I have loads of amazing memories there with my dad.

"I've been five times and never without my dad being there so it will be a a sore one, but I know that's where he would want to go."

Speaking before, Lisa admitting collecting the prize in her dad's honour was bitter sweet.

She said: "It's hard to say I'm excited as my biggest emotion about it is sadness that he's not here to enjoy the excitement of the day with us, but we will be there thinking of him and thanking him."

Lisa said she remembers laughing with her dad last Christmas because the first card he received for the holidays was from the Postcode Lottery.

She added: "I was laughing at him for his first Christmas card being from them.

"All I remember him saying is, 'well you won't be laughing when I win!' and he was right I wasn't laughing, I was crying."

Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.