By GB News (World News) | Created at 2026-10-01 04:11:03 | Updated at 2026-10-01 05:07:57
57 minutes ago
A National Lottery winner was shocked after a routine she started because of a "sixth sense" netted her a massive £300,000 jackpot.
Heart attack survivor Kate Daven-Thomas, 58, described herself as the "unluckiest lucky person" after the windfall.
She spent 30 years living and raising her children in Italy until she was forced to return to Britain due to ill health, having survived a heart attack.
Ms Daven-Thomas, who works as a florist in Minehead, explained how a steadfast commitment to a certain scratcher resulted in her winnings.
"For years I have had a sixth sense I was going to win a large amount of money on a scratchcard so I have a routine, a Cashword Extra scratchcard every other day, it's the little wordsearch I do to relax before bed," she said.
"But because I play last thing, it did make for a frantic moment when I discovered at 9.50pm I had matched 11 words and won £300,000."
The 58-year-old rapidly threw on some clothes and rushed to her nearest supermarket to verify her win, desperately hoping it was still open.
She said: "When I arrived, they were shutting up and had just switched off the National Lottery machine, I was horrified.
Kate Daven-Thomas described herself as the 'unluckiest lucky person'
PA
"I sidled up to the shopkeeper and, not wanting anyone else to know, whispered in her ear, 'please switch on the machine, I think I've won £300,000'.
"She looked a bit worried that I expected my winnings there and then but kindly switched it back on and was able to confirm it was real."
"I skipped home through the streets of Minehead barely able to believe my luck, and wondering if my surgeon’s advice to live a gentle life included heart-racing, lottery winning."
Ms Daven-Thomas now plans to use her windfall to help her adult children step onto Milan's property ladder.
National Lottery winner Kate Daven-Thomas now plans to spend her windfall to help her adult children
PA
She said: "I honestly feel like I’m the unluckiest lucky person.
"First, I was unlucky enough to have a heart attack, lucky enough to survive, unlucky to have to leave my children due to my care needs and now lucky again, winning enough to do something I've dreamed about for years.
"Face-timing my children to say I'd won and to start house-hunting was utterly magic, and spending last week with them in Milan looking for their forever home, simply incredible.
"The Italians have a phrase, la dolce vita, meaning life is sweet – I can honestly say, life has never been sweeter."
The 58-year-old mother said 'life has never been sweeter' since her massive lotto win
PA
Safe in the knowledge that her scratchcard was a winner, Ms Daven-Thomas barely slept and the following morning, after making the emotional call to her children, decided she wanted to tell her work colleagues.
"They were so excited for me and what this win meant for my family but sensibly reminded me the colourful piece of card I was waving about was worth a small fortune and should be somewhere a lot safer," she said.
"It was another comical moment as I dashed home once again with my winning scratchcard."
Andy Carter, from National Lottery operator Allwyn, said: "We know many scratchcard players have their own little rituals, and for Kate, that meant enjoying a game of Cashword Extra before bed each evening.
"What a moment it must have been to discover she’d won £300,000 instantly."
