Kath Main, a 46-year-old mother of two from Pontypridd, South Wales, claims she possessed a lottery ticket worth £12 million, which she only discovered was a winner hours after a shopkeeper discarded it. The ticket was for a draw on June 6, and Main reportedly uses the same numbers for her lottery entries for the past two decades.
According to Main, her mother, Fiona, who purchases the tickets weekly, presented the ticket at a Londis store in Abercynon. The shopkeeper reportedly stated that the machine did not indicate any prize, and Fiona agreed to have the ticket thrown away. Main later learned through news reports that the jackpot from the June 6 draw remained unclaimed and recognized the winning numbers as her own.
Mai has provided proof of purchase and security footage from a nearby hair salon, which reportedly shows Fiona buying the ticket. She has expressed distress over the situation, stating to The Sun, "I just feel sick all the time, it's the not knowing and waiting. I'm trying not to think about what I'd do with the money in case I don't get it."
The National Lottery operator, Allwyn, is currently investigating the incident. A spokesperson for Allwyn confirmed that the company is looking into the matter. Allwyn is known as the only major lottery in the UK that permits players to claim a prize even if a winning ticket has been lost, stolen, or destroyed. The shop where the ticket was purchased does not have CCTV surveillance as it is currently undergoing renovation. Main has been informed that the investigation could take up to 30 days to reach a decision.
Londis owner Karan Kumar commented on the situation, saying, "It would be amazing if she won."