‘Thank goodness!’: Builder almost misses out on £1m lottery win after ignoring ‘sales’ calls

A Somerset-based builder and his family narrowly avoided missing out on a £1 million lottery win after repeatedly dismissing calls and emails they believed were unsolicited marketing messages. Mark Jefferson, along with his wife Naomi and their four adult children, Alexandra, Lily, Emily, and Taylor, won the prize by matching five main numbers and the Bonus Ball in the Lotto draw on 24 June. The windfall will be shared among the six members of the family syndicate, which was established less than a year prior to the draw, on 20 July 2025, to commemorate Mark’s birthday. Each family member independently selected one Lotto line for each draw, with the winning numbers ultimately chosen by their daughter, Alexandra. Despite receiving several notifications prompting him to check his account, Mark initially assumed the winnings would be minimal, estimating he might have won “a few pounds.” He described his initial reaction upon learning of the win as disbelief, even going so far as to suspect the caller might be joking. “I genuinely thought someone was winding me up,” he said. “A builder from Somerset being told over the phone he’d won £1M? I wasn’t convinced at all.” Mark admitted he had turned down multiple attempts by the National Lottery to contact him over the course of nine days, believing the communications to be part of a persistent sales campaign. It was only by chance that he finally answered the call, leading to the revelation of the massive prize. “You get so many calls and emails these days, I just thought it was another sales call,” he explained. “Thank goodness I did.” The win has brought both emotional relief and practical considerations for the family. Mark expressed that the experience was “incredible,” noting how it felt to go from thinking he might have won a small sum to suddenly holding a life-changing prize. “I was in tears,” he said. “To think I’d spent nine days ignoring emails about something so life-changing is incredible.” His wife and children were equally overwhelmed, with the entire family describing the moment as one they would never forget. The family plans to use the winnings to support their children, enhance their quality of life, and create lasting memories. Among their immediate goals are a large family holiday abroad, a new convertible car for Naomi, and the purchase of a caravan on the south coast to facilitate spontaneous weekend trips. “For us, it’s all about making memories,” Mark said. “Knowing the family has opportunities we never imagined before is the best feeling in the world.” This recent win adds to a growing list of lottery winners in the UK. According to National Lottery operator Allwyn, more than 100 individuals have become millionaires through the lottery since the beginning of the year. Another notable case involves Kath Main, a 46-year-old mother from Pontypridd in South Wales, whose £12 million jackpot was at risk of being lost due to a shopkeeper discarding her winning ticket. After a 30-day investigation, Allwyn confirmed that Ms. Main will be eligible to claim her prize, provided no other claimant comes forward by 3 December. She has expressed hope of using some of the funds to support a Lions rugby tour of New Zealand.