A terminally ill 77-year-old and his wife have expressed their "absolute delight" after winning a £1million EuroMillions prize through an extraordinary gamble.
Marlyn Anderson, 70, only had £4.90 left in her National Lottery account when she decided to buy a ticket - but little did she know how life-changing this would turn out to be.
Her husband Ian, 77, suffers from pleural plaques and pulmonary fibrosis; his illness is terminal, and has left him struggling to breathe and unable to climb the stairs at the couple's home in Stirling.
But the £2.50 Lucky Dip ticket has turned the pair's fortunes around completely - Marlyn said: "I just thought there is no point just letting it sit in my account, I'll buy a Lucky Dip ticket for the next draw.
Ian and Marlyn Anderson, who have been married for 32 years, initially thought they'd only won £1,000
Allwyn
"It was the day after the draw that I saw an email saying there was good news about my ticket.
"I initially thought we had won £1,000 and I was absolutely delighted.
“I then started to count the zeros - and couldn’t quite believe what I was seeing - so I counted them again!
"I just kept thinking it couldn’t be true... I was desperately watching the clock tick to 8am when I could call the National Lottery to confirm everything.
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The pair have already bought a new car with the winnings and plan on splashing out on a bungalow
Allwyn
"I couldn’t believe it when the person on the other end of the phone told me it was correct... I actually don’t think the news has fully sunk in yet - neither Ian nor I can believe it.
"It still all seems very surreal - there is no other word to describe what we are going through right now!"
And the pair have detailed just what they plan to do with their mega winnings - having already splashed out on an automatic car, Marlyn said the couple had their eyes on an even bigger purchase.
She said: "Buying a bungalow - and I think I have seen one already - will allow Ian to have his own bedroom and for us to have a sitting room too, all on one level. This will be so special as it is something we haven’t been able to do for such a long time."
Ian said the windfall will make sure he can enjoy the best possible quality of life in the time he has left, and has taken comfort from knowing his wife and family - their two children, five grandchildren and one great-grandchild - will be alright in the future.
Marlyn had worked as a carer for people with dementia and learning difficulties, but had taken up the role full-time to care for her husband of 32 years.
Ian said he blames his terminal condition on continuous exposure to asbestos when he worked in construction.
His illness left the couple unable to enjoy trips abroad - but thanks to their £999,997.50 return on investment, they'll be set to lead a much more comfortable life going forward.
