A couple who won £1million on the Lotto despite a near disaster has revealed they quit their jobs last year and now go on holiday every month.
Terry Kennedy, 29, and Kay Yoxall, 36, wrote a bucket list as soon as they scooped the eye-watering jackpot prize - and the pair have been busy ticking it off.
As reported by the Mirror, they purchased a Lotto Lucky Dip ticket at their local Post Office and matched the five main numbers plus the bonus ball on the ticket they bought.
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Shockingly, after buying the ticket in Dunsville, Doncaster, Terry nonchalantly left the store - leaving the winning ticket on the counter.
However, thanks to the kindness of a shop assistant, they were called back in to pick it up - and nearly a year on since their big win, the couple say they cannot believe that they nearly missed out on the money and still have to pinch themselves. Over the past year, they have spent time writing a bucket list and spending the money travelling and renovating their home.
Just before Christmas last year the pair scooped their incredible win and then flew straight off to Tenerife before taking a long weekend away in Dublin. So far they have been swimming with dolphins, sky-diving, had a ride in a helicopter, snorkelled with turtles and bathed an elephant.
They have visited New York, Mexico, Pig Island in Thailand, Dubai, Portugal, France, Vegas, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Budapest, Turkey, and even enjoyed a luxurious Caribbean cruise.
Speaking about what they win means for the couple, Kay said: “This win is something which has absolutely changed our lives forever, including the ability it’s given us to travel the world.
“It is always something you hope will happen to you but it is just a dream – you think it’s something that only happens to other people – not ordinary people like us!
“And it may be a whole year on since we won but still, every single day, we have to pinch ourselves to remind us that this is real and it really did happen to us!”
Terry, a former professional footballer who was working on building sites before the win, added: "We both wanted to take time out to just let the news sink in and to live the dream.
“I cannot believe how much we have ticked off the list already! This win is something which has absolutely changed our lives forever, including the ability it’s given us to travel the world.
“It is always something you hope will happen to you but it is just a dream – you think it’s something that only happens to other people – not ordinary people like us!
“And it may be a whole year on since we won but still, every single day, we have to pinch ourselves to remind us that this is real and it really did happen to us.”
Kay said the New York helicopter ride “all with open doors so we could dangle our legs out“ was her highlight of their time together so far.
She added: “Swimming with dolphins in Mexico was on our bucket list of things to do too and we've now ticked that amazing memory off!
“That was magical, as was every trip we've taken since winning changed our lives forever.”
Despite the life-changing win, Kay is looking to return to work next year as a business administrator. But that will only happened after a return trip to Tenerife in December and a Jamaican cruise at the start of next year.
Terry says the couple have spent at least four months of the year on holiday, admitting all the travelling has led to them putting on a “bit of weight” so they've had to head back to the gym. He said: “We didn’t do a lot of travelling before we won because we couldn’t take time off work to do it.
“So winning the lottery has given us a chance for all our dreams to come true. I probably say we’ve been away for around four months in total. We were in Thailand for a month and we’ve been on a couple of cruises that takes it to two months.
“We enjoy cruises because you can wake up in a different place and we see more of the world. We’ve got another cruise in January which goes to Panama, Columbia and Mexico. Then a week in Jamaica.
“We’ve put on a bit of weight on this past year but we’ve started back at the gym now," he laughed.
Terry, is a former Sheffield United footballer whose playing career was cut short due to injury. He quit his job the moment the incredible news was confirmed.
He had to be called back by the shop assistant to pick up the ticket, and upon checking it at work, he found out he’d matched the main numbers plus the bonus ball.
His work mate filmed Terry making the call to the National Lottery - in a video which then went viral.
Recalling the incredible moment, he said he screamed and shouted to his colleagues in the lunch cabin. He added: “Thinking about that call – and listening back to it today – still gives us both goosebumps – and if I am honest, brings tears to our eyes too! It is a moment which will stay with me for the rest of my life.”
"Despite all the checks it isn’t until you hear on the phone that it is a £1M win that you really believe it.
"Making the call in front of my mates and colleagues was brilliant and I immediately took them to the pub for a celebratory pint.
“Thinking about that call – and listening back to it today – still gives us both goosebumps – and if I am honest, brings tears to our eyes too! It is a moment which will stay with me for the rest of my life.”
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The 29-year-old and 26-year-old are now renovating their own property to create their dream home in Rotherham, with Kay saying that the money has gone a long way to help them build and live the dream.
She said: “We are loving just having the time ourselves to build a dream home – just as we want it to be.
“The winning isn’t just about the money – it is about buying you that all important time which when you are working you just do not have.”
Their completed bucket list includes: a Caribbean cruise, Mexico, New York, a ride in a helicopter, snorkelling with turtles, Pig Island in Thailand, elephant bathing and feeding in Thailand, Dubai, a Portugal family holiday, France, Hawai, Los Vegas, Australia, Tokyo, a sky dive, New Zealand, Italy and Budapest.
And they say next up on their never-ending list is Bora Bora.
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