We were sure we’d lost £1M Lotto jackpot after supermarket mistake – it took final phone call to put fear aside

A COUPLE that had won a lottery jackpot almost walked away with nothing after forgetting the ticket in the shop.

If it wasn’t for a kind shopkeeper stepping in, Terry Kennedy, 30, and Kay Yoxall, 36 could have missed out on a whopping sum.

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The South Yorkshire pair scooped up £1million in National Lottery in 2021, but were nearly left empty-handed because of a small mistake.

Terry had almost left the ticket behind at a Barnsley shop, but the assistant called him back to grab it off the counter.

The former footballer matched five numbers plus the bonus ball after buying the Lotto Lucy Dip ticket but couldn’t believe his luck.

It wasn’t until he received the call from the National Lottery that he put his worries to rest.

The life-changing moment of Terry finding out he’d hit the big jackpot was caught on camera by his coworker and went viral.

He went on to say: “Despite all the checks it isn’t until you hear on the phone that it is a £1M win that you really believe it.”

Terry and his partner, Kay, quit their jobs immediately and haven’t looked back since.

They have been ticking “dreams” off their bucket list, travelling to every corner of the world and renovating their home.

But despite their dreams coming true, the couple still cannot believe their luck and have to “pinch themselves”.

Terry said: “This win is something which has absolutely changed our lives forever, including the ability it’s given us to travel the world.

“It is always something you hope will happen to you but it is just a dream – you think it’s something that only happens to other people – not ordinary people like us.

“Every single day, we have to pinch ourselves to remind us that this is real and it really did happen to us.”

Terry used to play football alongside England defender Harry Maguire, but bad luck with injuries forced him out of Sheffield United.

He’d picked up a job as a construction worker but ultimately left after securing the incredible win – and has no plans of returning.

Terry admitted that they couldn’t travel as much before the win as they couldn’t take time off their work.

Kay, on the other hand, wants to resume her work as a business administrator but only after the two fulfil all of their travel plans.

The winning isn’t just about the money – it is about buying you that all important time which when you are working you just do not have.

Kay Yoxall, lottery winner

The pair has already visited several countries, jetting off on a new holiday every month.

They have spent a total of four months away, landing in Thailand, Dubai, Portugal, France, Australia, New Zealand, Budapest, Turkey.

Terry and Kay can now boast about swimming with dolphins in Mexico, playing poker in Vegas and even taking a helicopter ride to admire the views of New York.

But their adventures didn’t stop there – the pair also went sky-diving, snorkelled with turtles and bathed an elephant.

UK’s biggest lottery winners

By Ethan Singh

• Anonymous winner – £195,707,000

A UK ticket-holder scooped the record EuroMillions jackpot of £195 million on July 19 2022 – the biggest National Lottery win of all time.

The holder, who remains anonymous to this day, amassed the fortune with just one lucky ticket.

• Joe and Jess Thwaite – £184,262,899.10

Britain’s previous EuroMillions record holders were Joe and Jess Thwaite.

The couple won a record-breaking £184million jackpot in May 2022 and shared hopes of a Hawaiian holiday and a new horse box for their children’s ponies.

Joe bought his winning ticket online on May 10, 2022, and the following morning received an email with good news.

As he learnt of the huge win, he was in disbelief and initially kept it for himself as he did not want to disturb his wife, who was sleeping.

Joe, a communications sales engineer, and Jess, who runs a hairdressing salon with her sister, have been married for 11 years and have two children.

• Colin and Chris Weir, £161,653,000

Colin and Christine Weir landed the colossal prize money in 2011 and were Europe’s second-biggest winners until someone in Italy won a jackpot worth £193m in 2019.

They splashed the cash at an astounding rate of £100,000 a week before tragedy struck.

But at the time of Colin’s death in December 2019 his share of the prize money had dwindled by around £40m.

He spent the millions living a life of luxury, forking out for sports cars, property and the football club he supported.

Colin and Christine divorced shortly before his death after being married for 38 years.

He left money for their children Carly and Jamie.

• Adrian and Gillian Brayford – £148,600,000

Adrian and Gillian won 190 million euros in a EuroMillions draw in August 2012, which came to just over £148 million.

But Adrian split from Gillian the following year because of the stress of the win.

The couple bought a Grade II listed estate in Cambridgeshire, complete with cinema and billiards room, but it was sold in 2021.

After divorcing in 2013, he failed to woo ex-sausage factory worker Marta Jarosz — but fell for stable girl Sam Burbidge.

She left him in 2017, taking 30 prize horses Adrian bought.

It might have worked out in the end for Adrian though as the former postman was seen smiling with ambulance worker Tracey Biles last year.

• Frances and Patrick Connolly – £114,969,775

Former social worker and teacher Frances set up two charitable foundations after she and her husband hit the jackpot.

They scooped almost £115 million on New Year’s Day 2019.

She estimates that she has already given away £60 million to charitable causes, as well as friends and family.

• Richard and Debbie Nuttall – £61,000,000

The couple from Colne, Lancashire, took home £61 million on January 30 2024.

Both 54, they were enjoying a holiday in Fuerteventura, celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary.

But they then discovered the big EuroMillions win.

Richard revealed they originally thought they had won £2.60, but then received another email telling the pair to check their account.

Other eye-watering anonymous winners:

• 2019 – £123million

Another anonymous winner scooped up a prize of £123,458,008 in the June Superdraw rollover.

• 2021 – £122million

Following nine rollovers, one ticketholder bagged the £122,550,350 jackpot last April.

The successful participant chose to remain anonymous.

• 2018 – £121million

Another anonymous winner found their fortune during the Superdraw jackpot rollover in April 2018, securing £121,328,187.

Their next stop is a luxurious cruise around the Caribbean before Kay returns to work.

Kay said they have “absolutely loved every minute since their win”, adding: “On average, we’ve managed to go somewhere different each month.”

Terry added: “I cannot believe how much we have ticked off the list already!”

On their off-time from travelling, the happy couple is focusing on renovating their house in Rotherham as they turn it into a dream home.

Kay said: “We are loving just having the time ourselves to build a dream home – just as we want it to be.

“The winning isn’t just about the money – it is about buying you that all important time which when you are working you just do not have.”

But the pair has revealed one downside to their incredible luck – all the travelling has made them put on extra weight.

Terry admitted that the couple has been hitting up gym.

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This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk