A retired teacher who scooped £3.5million in the EuroMillions draw celebrated with a glass of water and a sit down.
Celeste Cole, 69, bought her ticket for the July 12 draw moments before sales ended after being enticed by the large jackpot on offer.
Later the same night she checked her numbers and, seeing she had matched five and a lucky star, realised she was in for “something big”.
As news of her huge win sunk in, Celeste poured herself a glass of water.
She said: “One by one I ticked off the numbers, by the fifth main number I knew I’d won something big-ish, but then when I spotted I had also matched one of the Lucky Stars I knew I’d won something even bigger.
“I’ve always been a pretty calm person, so there was no whooping from me, but I did decide a glass of water and a sit down was in order.
“Now I think about it, I was probably in shock and I still am. You never think it will really happen to you.
“Needless to say, I didn’t sleep very much that night and called Camelot as soon as the lines opened. When the win was confirmed I finally let myself believe it was all real.”
Celeste, originally from Barbados, bought her winning EuroMillions Lucky Dip ticket via the National Lottery App and her winning numbers were 14, 18, 24, 25, 50 and Lucky Star 11.
Celeste has two adult daughters - 38–year-old Rachel who has Down’s syndrome, and Nicola, aged 32.
As soon as she found out she had won she messaged Nicola and asked her to call as soon as she could.
Now, she is planning “bucket list” trips to the likes of South America.
She added: ““I have two amazing daughters, Rachel is my oldest daughter and she has Down’s syndrome, and her younger sister is Nicola. When Nicola called I asked her to check my ticket for me.
"She read the draw results one by one, as I said... ‘yes…yes…yes’. Her reaction was brilliant, she said ‘mum, is this a scam?!
"Stop it, I don’t believe you!’ and insisted I send her a photo.
“The biggest thing for me is knowing that I now have financial security and that my girls will have a more comfortable life - especially Rachel.
"Bringing up a child with Down’s syndrome has been challenging at times but also rewarding.
"We have been supported by some excellent charities that have had an enormous impact on our lives.
"Pure and Midland Mencap in particular have been a great support and do brilliant work including giving Rachel the opportunity to work and integrate more fully with the community.
“I’ve always worked hard and now have a comfortable life, so there is nothing that I really want as such although I wouldn’t mind a holiday home in Spain, something I never thought would have been possible.
“I also have some trips that I’d love to take. I've always wanted to go to South America, so a trip to Rio, Chile, Brazil and Argentina are definitely on the cards.
“I’d also like to go on a train trip through the Rocky Mountains - that’s a real bucket list dream that I can now hopefully tick off in the not too distant future.”
