I almost lost my £250k People’s Postcode lottery win… I’d cancelled my ticket – it’s a gift from my dead dad
A PUNTER has told how she almost lost her £250,000 People’s Postcode lottery win after cancelling her ticket.
Elise Buswell from Telford, Shropshire, revealed how a simple mistake turned into a stroke of luck.
The 28-year-old’s fortune journey started after joining the Postcode Lottery in December.
Elise cancelled one of the tickets after signing up for two by mistake.
I feel like my dad’s always around me, that he’s my guardian angel and he’s the reason that this has happened
Elise Buswell
But little did she know that her winnings were doubled as the ticket was still valid for Saturday’s prize.
The mobile barber said: “I joined the Postcode Lottery in December, but I accidentally signed up with two tickets.
“Next day I got two emails saying that I’d signed up twice, but I never got round to cancelling it until a week or two ago.”
The delay in cancelling the duplicate ticket meant she was able to bag a staggering £250,000.
She added: “The timing’s been right because I’ve still won with two tickets.”
The lucky winner said it was her dad Robert Seager who “helped” her scoop the remarkable cash.
How to play People's Postcode Lottery
People’s Postcode Lottery costs £12 a month to play and there are guaranteed winners every day.
People play with their chosen postcode and are automatically entered into all draws.
When that postcode is drawn, people holding the right tickets inside it win.
She explained: “But I feel like my dad’s always around me, that he’s my guardian angel and he’s the reason that this has happened.”
GUIDING HAND FROM ABOVE
Elise had an emotional connection to her late dad who tragically lost his battle with cancer last May, she said.
The punter said: “He was my best friend and unfortunately at the end of May last year I lost him to cancer.
“He battled it for more than two years, but he lost his fight and left a big hole in my heart.”
Despite the bittersweet absence of her beloved dad, she plans to honour his memory and celebrate her whopping win.
She added: “I thought it had to be my dad. I was his baby. He was a lot like that when he was alive. He would help me when he could.
“It’s sad that he’s not here to celebrate with me. But I like to think that he’s celebrating with me in spirit.”
Elise clinched her prize after her postcode TF1 5GN came out the winner in the Postcode Lottery weekly Millionaire Street draw on April 13.
She added: “It’s also amazing winning with neighbours. It’s nice to be able to share the feeling and excitement.”
Overwhelmed by the unexpected win, she said: “Oh my God! This is going to help so much. I’m lost for words.
“I would have been happy with a couple of grand, to be honest. I’m shaking. It’s unimaginable.”
She now plans to splash her wealth in a sun-kissed holiday and will treat herself to a new car.
The lucky winner said: “I’ve not been on holiday for 10 years. Anywhere is fine. Even Wales would be fine. The only holiday I’ve ever had abroad was Greece. I loved that, so I might go to Greece again. But I wouldn’t mind trying Benidorm.
“I never really treat myself. My kind of treat is a new Hoover. But I might even get a new car now.
“I’ll also spend money on sorting bits of the house that they’ve destroyed.”
Elise also plans to bring her two beloved dogs – Polo, 10, a Husky/Malamute cross, and five-year-old Bentley, a Husky/Boxer cross – in the celebrations.
She said: “My two dogs are my lucky charms. They’ll get lots of chews and toys.”
LOTTO WINNER NEAR-MISSES
LOTTO winners up and down the country have shared tales of when they almost lost their winnings before even being able to spend it because of little-known rules or family members thinking it's a scam.
MUM IS NOT ALWAYS RIGHT
Joanne Jobson from Hartlepool, County Durham, snagged the top prize on Set For Life and now banks £10,000 every month – and will do so for the next three decades.
But the hardworking carer revealed how she almost missed out on the prize money after her mum believed it was a scam.
After Joanne checked her account and discovered she had won a jaw-dropping amount of money, she rushed to tell her mum, who she lives with.
She said: “I jumped out of bed and went to tell my mum.
“I remember just saying to mum ‘I think I might have won a lot of money’ and showing her my phone.
“Mum was convinced it was a scam, so I googled the winning Set For Life numbers for the same date to see if they matched – which of course they did.”
It was only when Joanne got through to the staff at the National Lottery that she was able to confirm that her life had changed forever.
A MOVING OUT GIFT
Lucky punter Alan Jones, 56, had almost axed his ticket for his sold Tyne and Wear property.
Instead, on the last day in his home, Jones’ Westerhope postcode struck gold with him and five other neighbours who all netted £166,666 each.
Jones said: “I was going to cancel my ticket and renew it wherever I end up. Thank goodness I didn’t.
“I’ve got to be out by 2pm tomorrow and I’m basically packing up the house now because I need a new start. This has helped give me that.”
CHECK YOUR LOTTO BALANCE
Euromillions winner Ian Anderson scooped a £1million jackpot prize, but nearly missed out on the life-changing win.
Ian Anderson, 77, and wife Marlyn, 70, bagged the massive sum after copping the fateful £2.50 Lucky Dip ticket.
The elderly couple only had £4.90 left in their National Lottery account before they opted to take a chance on the jackpot.
Marlyn, who now cares for her terminally ill husband after he was sadly diagnosed with pleural plaques and pulmonary fibrosis, always plays the Lottery but had no idea that one day she would win big.
She recalled: “I just thought there is no point £4.90 just sitting in my account, I will buy a lucky dip ticket for the next draw.
“It was the day after the draw that I saw an email saying there was good news about my ticket.”
LISTEN TO YOUR GUT
Tamsin Burling, 33, admitted to learning a big lesson after scooping £83,000 on the lottery
The mum, who won her share of £1million alongside her Kent neighbors, said her fiancé Craig Billington once tried to convince her not to buy a ticket.
But she ignored him and now they’ve scooped tens of thousands of pounds.
Craig, 32, looked on sheepishly as Tamsin, who at the time was seven months pregnant with their third child, celebrated the five-figure win.