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NHS Worker Wins Big To Start 2025 as a Millionaire

A lucky EuroMillions player has revealed how a ‘funny feeling’ prompted him to buy tickets for the New Year’s Eve draw which ended up making him a millionaire.

Andy Hornsby, a 56-year-old NHS worker from Redcar on the Yorkshire coast, was only an occasional EuroMillions player. However, he had an unexpected urge to enter this particular draw, which offered 10 prizes of £1 million through the Millionaire Maker instead of the usual one.

A similar sensation came over him 10 minutes before midnight, when he suddenly decided to check his numbers while the rest of his household was getting ready for the turn of the year. He discovered that he had matched one of the winning Millionaire Maker codes, sending him into 2025 on the most perfect note.

Hornsby recalled: “My partner thought she’d missed midnight when she walked into the lounge to hear us all cheering, but instead of saying ‘Happy New Year’, I said, ‘I think we’re millionaires’ to which she replied, ‘don’t be so stupid’!

“The rest of the evening is a blur, I don’t think we even wished anyone a Happy New Year, as we just checked and rechecked the ticket. It was so surreal we couldn’t help but laugh as the news slowly settled in. My partner’s biggest concern was that I’d spend it all in B&M. I’ll admit I’ve had some memorable New Year’s Eves, but nothing comes close to this!”

No Plans to Retire

Thinking back to the day when he bought his ticket, Hornsby said: “Normally I wouldn’t spend £5 but I just followed some gut instinct, bought two tickets and, when I got home, put them both under the lucky shamrock stone we keep on the mantlepiece. I think we can all agree that Lady Luck was smiling on me that day, and that our lucky stone is definitely lucky!”

Andy and his partner are now looking forward to getting married in May, and an incredible future beyond that. They will be buying a new home and fiancee Mandy is quitting her shift work so they can have more weekends away, but Andy has no plans to retire.

“I enjoy what I do, I’ve worked all my life so see no need to stop at present,” said Andy, who is a specialist medical delivery driver. “But not being tied by Mandy’s shifts will give us so much more freedom, and time to enjoy our new home together.”

Andy and Mandy have bought a campervan to explore more of the UK, while they also want to go on more cruises. One possible destination is Italy, as it was at the Leaning Tower of Pisa that Andy surprised his partner with an engagement ring.

Jackpot at £83 Million

Andy was one of the last big winners in a bumper 2024 for the National Lottery, along with the nine others who banked £1 million on 31st December. There hasn’t been a jackpot win yet this year, and the top prize has now surged to £83 million (€98 million).

You can play EuroMillions in nine participating countries by visiting an authorised retailer, or choosing your numbers online. Check the results as soon as draws take place every Tuesday and Friday. 

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Published: Wed, 22 January 2025 - 10:11am
Published By: Euro-Millions.com