A rugby fan discovered he had won £1m on the EuroMillions while at home self-isolating with Covid-19.
Mark Francis, a delivery driver for a car parts company from Swansea, had bought a ticket with the winning UK Millionaire Maker draw code on January 4, 2022, and found out he won while trying to cheer himself up because he felt very ill with symptoms.
The 49-year-old hopes to use some of his winnings to watch his favourite rugby teams - the Ospreys, Wales and the British and Irish Lions - on their foreign tours as soon as travel restrictions ease.
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"When I looked at the app, it said I had won, but I had only got one number, so I was a bit confused," he said.
"So I decided to call up and see, and that was when they told me I was a millionaire - I'd matched the millionaire's code.
"I rang my partner Helen first, and then my mum, neither of them believed me that I'd won.
"I put the lottery on every week and I've never won much before, but as I always say, you have to be in it to win it.
"I must admit since the money has come in, I've gone and put my card in the atm just to bring up the balance. I still can't believe it when I see it."
Mark and his partner Helen Taylor, 50, had often talked about what they would do if they ever won the lottery.
Mark said: "If I ever won a huge sum of money, I've always said I would have bought the Ospreys, and even though £1,000,000 is a huge amount, I don't think it'll quite cover it."
"I might be able to afford a player though," he added jokingly.
Mark and Helen, a carer for Swansea Council, celebrated their win at the Ospreys home ground, the Swansea.com Stadium, where they were shown behind the scenes before taking to the pitch.
Mark said: “As a season ticket holder, I try to get down to the stadium to support the boys whenever they play at home. I juggle shifts if I have to, I wouldn’t want to miss a match."
After testing negative and ending his isolation, Mark’s first purchase was an Audi Q5.
He said: “I took a trip to the Audi garage and fell in love with the Q5, I’m so excited to pick it up later today.
"I did ask Helen if she’d like a new car but she said she didn’t need one as she only really drives it for work."
Helen said: "I don't want him to buy me anything. I'm much more keen on making memories than buying anything new. I've asked for a trip to London in the Spring, hopefully we will get to do so many more of these little trips away now.”
However, a new home is on the cards for Mark: "I'd like to also buy a house with the win and I’ve been forced to look online whilst in isolation but haven’t seen anything yet.
"We don’t want to leave the area, we love it here, so I’d rather wait and get the perfect house. I don’t want anything grand, I just want more space so that the grandkids can come and stay and we can have a decent garden for Gryff, our new cavapoo puppy.”
The couple have no plans to give up work but Mark would like to set aside some of the money to ensure that they are taken care of in retirement.
He said: “I really enjoy my job and I think I’d lose the plot if I didn’t work but it’s great to know that when I do decide to retire I’ll have a bit of a nest egg. I feel like we can live the rest of our lives without worry now.”
Mark added: "You never think it will be you, and then one day it is. Take this as your sign to put your numbers on."
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