National Lottery winner says 'help from above' led to jackpot win after choosing own numbers over lucky dip

The mother, who lives with her partner and teenage children, said the last few years "have been really hard at times" after her mum died in 2023.

She then discovered her dad, 83, had developed mixed dementia and has been helping to care for him ever since.

The hairdresser, from Bristol, said: "The last few years have been really hard at times.

"This win honestly feels like help from above.

"It’s come at exactly the right moment and will make life that little bit easier for us."

The lucky player explained she usually plays numbers based on the dates of family members' birthdays, but on the night of the winning draw considered switching to a lucky dip.

However, she changed her mind at the last minute and kept to her normal habits - and her numbers turned out to be the winning combination.

"Was just about to do a Lucky Dip, but something made me stop and change my mind," Ms Parkins added.

"I picked all of our birthdays instead - and I still can’t believe those were the numbers that won.”

While the lottery winner has not made any firm plans for the money yet, she said a family holiday is high on the list, especially with her daughter's 18th birthday coming up.

“We’ve talked about China, so that would be amazing if we can make it happen," she said.

The mum added that for now, she is enjoying the feeling of having "peace of mind".

Dean O’Field, Winners’ Advisor at Allwyn, operator of The National Lottery, said: “It’s always incredibly moving to meet winners like Emma and hear their stories.

"After everything she’s been through, this win will give her some much-deserved breathing space and the chance to make special memories with her family.

Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter