Winning the National Lottery can trigger extraordinary physical and emotional responses, from complete collapse to prolonged sleeplessness.
"I have had people who have collapsed to the floor with the shock, people who can't eat or sleep," said lottery winnings adviser Cathy Garrett.
Ms Garrett has spent 16 years breaking life-changing news to those who have won £50,000 or more, describing her role as "really rewarding".
She explained that winners often experience profound disbelief when they discover their fortune.
"Seeing the difference it makes to people's lives, just spending a few pounds on a lottery ticket, something they never expect to happen, and then just all of a sudden, out of the blue, check their ticket, and they've won a huge sum of money," she said.
Despite the windfall, most winners demonstrate sensible financial habits rather than extravagant spending sprees.
"People are quite normal and sensible. They clear debts and pay off mortgages a lot of the time," Ms Garrett noted.
"A new car is always top of the list as well, and then a nice holiday, which we absolutely recommend."
Some purchases prove more modest, including household items winners might not otherwise justify.
"An electric cheese grater was a new one," she added.
The National Lottery and its operator Allwyn have released details of the outstanding winnings, which include a £10million jackpot and multiple £1million prizes | GETTYThe vast majority of winners opt to remain anonymous, with only a small proportion choosing to share their stories publicly.
Convincing some winners that their fortune is genuine can prove challenging due to widespread scam concerns.
One man refused to answer his door even when Ms Garrett arrived in person, only accepting reality once the funds reached his account.
Among the most memorable cases Ms Garrett has encountered is that of Adam and Amy Pryor from Maidstone, who secured £1million through a EuroMillions Millionaire Maker lucky dip in 2017.
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The couple's daughter Charlotte was just eight months old at the time and faced significant health challenges.
"It made such a difference to them because it meant \[Amy\] didn't have to go back to work," Ms Garrett explained.
"They bought a new house, and they had a sensory room for their daughter, so it made a huge difference to their lives and, more importantly, to the daughter's life."
The win allowed the family to prioritise caring for Charlotte during a critical period.
The year 2025 produced a new millionaire on average every single day, with 365 individuals collectively receiving £702million in prize money.
These fortunate winners formed part of a larger group of 757 National Lottery players who claimed prizes exceeding £50,000 during the year.
The largest individual payout reached £83million through a EuroMillions jackpot.
Data from the National Lottery revealed that care workers, social workers and charity employees represented the most common professions among millionaire winners.
One man refused to answer his door even when Ms Garrett arrived in person, only accepting reality once the funds reached his account
| PAThroughout her career, Ms Garrett has guided more than 3,000 winners through the process.
"It sounds cheesy, but it's like I've won the lottery myself because it's just so lovely to be part of that," she said.
The National Lottery has recently issued an urgent appeal to six people holding winning tickets.
Andy Carter, senior winners advisor at Allwyn, which operates The National Lottery, said: “Two tickets are yet to be found which are both worth £1million each.
“We’re desperate to unite both these lucky ticket-holders with their winnings.”