A warehouse worker who lost her job during the Covid-19 pandemic plans to buy a new house with her boyfriend after winning almost £250,000 on the EuroMillions.
Samantha Morton, 36, was furloughed in March, from her job as a warehouse and logistics manager in Dorset and during this time she moved to Essex to live with her boyfriend, Barry Lingard, 26.
She was later made redundant over the summer and found a new job as a warehouse operator.
But then things took a turn when she realised she'd won £242,775.50 in the EuroMillions draw on November 27th, with an online Lucky Dip.
She admits she was in a "bit of a daze" after discovering she had won.
The divorcee met her boyfriend online last year, and during the pandemic she moved in with him and his family after "weekends of making the 170-mile trip travelling to see each other" she said.
Then she found a new job in the area after being made redundant.
But now, the "life-changing" win means that she and Barry can move out of his parents house and buy one of their own.
Ms Morton said: "The day that I found out I had won, which was on Saturday morning after the draw on Friday night, I was asked by my manager if I wanted to do some overtime.
"I think that's the moment when the win started to sink in as, rather than having to weigh up the extra cash against extra hours, I was able to say straight away - and very politely - 'No thanks!"'
As well as being able to buy a new home, Ms Morton is also planning to buy the hire car she's been using outright, and pay off her debts.
Then the couple intend to go on a holiday, when it's safe to do so.
"It's been a tough year but I couldn't feel more lucky right now," she said.
"This Christmas is going to be extra special.
"Like everyone else, we're looking forward to a better year next year."
A whopping £144 million was up for grabs on the draw Ms Morton won on, and a later EuroMillions on December 8 had a record-breaking £175million jackpot.
The record fortune would make you richer than Adele and is still up for grabs.
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