Mum of two from Skegness bags £500k lottery win just in time for Christmas

Natasha Fludder (31) is already searching for a new home and buying Christmas treats for her family after winning the top Thunderball prize on the Saturday December 7 draw.

But it might not have happened had she not decided, whilst standing in Tesco, to buy an extra ticket which turned out to be her lucky winning ticket.

Mother of two boys, aged seven and four, Natasha talks about the moment she found out she was £500,000 richer.

She said: “My eldest son wouldn’t go to sleep so I thought I’d check my phone for the Thunderball numbers whilst he dosed off.

“I always choose random numbers, but have number 12 as my Thunderball as it’s my birthday.

"For some reason for this draw I marked down on the play slip four twenty-something numbers plus 15.

"Looking at my phone I noticed I had matched 26 and with my 12 I had won a fiver.

"Then I saw I had actually matched four numbers which was £100 and thought that’s great.

"Then I noticed number 15 meaning I had won £5,000. I was at this point praying I was right and had won £5,000 when I remembered my Thunderball was 12, the number I always have and it was the jackpot.

“My son was now asleep and the other one was also in bed. I was thinking this can’t be real! I quickly phoned my sister because I wanted her to check the numbers for me. She didn’t answer. I then messaged her via text and through Facebook with a screen shot of my ticket and one of the Thunderball draw on NEWS YouTube but nothing.

"I desperately needed someone to check the numbers and confirm it was all true.”

Natasha then called her mum. “Mum answered and I told her I thought I’d matched all the numbers but could she check for me. She was out and would check when she got home.

"I then thought I’d look at the National Lottery App on my phone. I scanned the ticket and it said congratulations.

"Mum called back and said she’d checked too and said ‘If those are your numbers and it’s for the draw on Saturday December 7 then yes, I think you have won the jackpot.

"I don’t even think she realised it was £500,000, she was very calm about it all.”

Natasha’s sister eventually called her back in a panic after seeing all her messages. She said: “My sister really thought something was wrong but was

happy and shocked when I told her my news. I then spent a restless night thinking if it was real and what I’d do with half a million pounds. I waited until the Sunday morning to call Camelot to see if I’d won and they said yes!”

Still in absolute shock, Natasha is working out what to do with the winnings. She said: “After living in rented accommodation all the boys’ life, the first thing I’ll do is buy a home.

"I’ve already been looking through estate agent windows. My eldest son has Downs Syndrome and to have our own place will be just great for him. He

also has a fair amount of specialist equipment which needs a lot of space.

"Apart from that I haven’t decided, but obviously Christmas will be extra special for all the family with lots of treats for everyone.”

The lucky mum always buys her Thunderball tickets from Tesco, Richmond Drive

Skegness, PE23 3PQ. The winning ticket was bought on Friday December 6 and the winning numbers for the draw of Saturday December 7 were 15,23,24,26,28 and the Thunderball was 12.

For more information on National Lottery funding please visit www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk.