An NHS worker from Redcar celebrated an extraordinary start to 2025 after discovering he had won £1million in the EuroMillions draw just minutes before the New Year countdown.
Andy Hornsby, 56, who has worked for the NHS for more than a decade, found out about his life-changing win while preparing drinks for the midnight toast on New Year's Eve.
The lucky winner had purchased two EuroMillions tickets from his local Asda following a strong gut feeling about the December 31 draw.
"I'll admit I've had some memorable New Years Eves, but nothing comes close to this!" said Hornsby, who made the remarkable discovery with just ten minutes to spare before midnight.
The fateful decision to purchase lottery tickets came during a visit to his local Asda supermarket on New Year's Eve.
"Normally I wouldn't spend £5 on tickets but I just followed some gut instinct," Hornsby explained.
Upon returning home, he placed both tickets under a lucky shamrock stone kept on the mantlepiece.
The premonition proved correct when, moments before midnight and without his reading glasses, Hornsby noticed the EuroMillions Millionaire Maker code appeared to match his ticket.
Unable to verify the numbers clearly, he asked his stepdaughter to check the ticket using the National Lottery app.
"She scanned the ticket on her National Lottery app and as a £1,000,000 win popped up we both just started laughing," he recalled.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
The celebrations took an unexpected turn when Hornsby's partner returned to the room amid their excitement.
"My partner thought she'd missed midnight when she walked into the lounge to hear us all cheering," said Hornsby.
Instead of a New Year greeting, he announced, "I think we're millionaires," to which she responded, "Don't be so stupid."
The rest of the evening became a blur of repeated ticket checks as the reality of their win slowly sank in.
"It was so surreal we couldn't help but laugh as the news slowly settled in," Hornsby recalled.
His partner's primary concern was a humorous one - that he might spend the entire windfall at B&M.
The couple spent their final moments of 2024 verifying their good fortune, barely remembering to mark the New Year's countdown.
As soon as the National Lottery Line opened on New Year's Day, Hornsby contacted Allwyn to verify his win.
Even after receiving confirmation that he was Yorkshire's newest millionaire, the NHS worker struggled to comprehend his fortune.
"It's funny, although I knew it's possible to win, and always hoped I would, I just couldn't take in that I'd spent £2.50 on a Lucky Dip ticket in my local Asda and in return, I was now a millionaire," he said.
Hornsby was quick to share the news with his NHS colleagues, sending them a screenshot of his win.
"Going in for my shift the next day there were plenty of congratulations and a fair bit of banter too, that helped it to feel real," he added.
The lucky winner and his partner of six years, Mandy, are already putting their windfall to good use.
The engaged couple, who have been renting for many years, have had an offer accepted on their dream forever home.
The property, a bungalow located in their favourite North Yorkshire town, will allow them to start their married life mortgage-free.
"We're getting married in May, it will be amazing to start our married life mortgage-free, in our forever home and in our dream location," said Hornsby.
The NHS worker has also treated himself to a VW Campervan, with plans to explore more of the UK.
The couple's future now looks particularly bright as they prepare for both their wedding and the move to their new home.
Find Out More...
Andy Hornsby, 56, who has worked for the NHS for more than a decade, found out about his life-changing win while preparing drinks for the midnight toast on New Year's Eve.
The lucky winner had purchased two EuroMillions tickets from his local Asda following a strong gut feeling about the December 31 draw.
"I'll admit I've had some memorable New Years Eves, but nothing comes close to this!" said Hornsby, who made the remarkable discovery with just ten minutes to spare before midnight.
The fateful decision to purchase lottery tickets came during a visit to his local Asda supermarket on New Year's Eve.
"Normally I wouldn't spend £5 on tickets but I just followed some gut instinct," Hornsby explained.
Upon returning home, he placed both tickets under a lucky shamrock stone kept on the mantlepiece.
The premonition proved correct when, moments before midnight and without his reading glasses, Hornsby noticed the EuroMillions Millionaire Maker code appeared to match his ticket.
Unable to verify the numbers clearly, he asked his stepdaughter to check the ticket using the National Lottery app.
"She scanned the ticket on her National Lottery app and as a £1,000,000 win popped up we both just started laughing," he recalled.
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The celebrations took an unexpected turn when Hornsby's partner returned to the room amid their excitement.
"My partner thought she'd missed midnight when she walked into the lounge to hear us all cheering," said Hornsby.
Instead of a New Year greeting, he announced, "I think we're millionaires," to which she responded, "Don't be so stupid."
The rest of the evening became a blur of repeated ticket checks as the reality of their win slowly sank in.
"It was so surreal we couldn't help but laugh as the news slowly settled in," Hornsby recalled.
His partner's primary concern was a humorous one - that he might spend the entire windfall at B&M.
The couple spent their final moments of 2024 verifying their good fortune, barely remembering to mark the New Year's countdown.
As soon as the National Lottery Line opened on New Year's Day, Hornsby contacted Allwyn to verify his win.
Even after receiving confirmation that he was Yorkshire's newest millionaire, the NHS worker struggled to comprehend his fortune.
"It's funny, although I knew it's possible to win, and always hoped I would, I just couldn't take in that I'd spent £2.50 on a Lucky Dip ticket in my local Asda and in return, I was now a millionaire," he said.
Hornsby was quick to share the news with his NHS colleagues, sending them a screenshot of his win.
"Going in for my shift the next day there were plenty of congratulations and a fair bit of banter too, that helped it to feel real," he added.
The lucky winner and his partner of six years, Mandy, are already putting their windfall to good use.
The engaged couple, who have been renting for many years, have had an offer accepted on their dream forever home.
The property, a bungalow located in their favourite North Yorkshire town, will allow them to start their married life mortgage-free.
"We're getting married in May, it will be amazing to start our married life mortgage-free, in our forever home and in our dream location," said Hornsby.
The NHS worker has also treated himself to a VW Campervan, with plans to explore more of the UK.
The couple's future now looks particularly bright as they prepare for both their wedding and the move to their new home.
Find Out More...