• Published

A family almost missed out on a £1m lottery jackpot after unknowingly ignoring calls and emails notifying them that they had won.

Builder Mark Jefferson from Ilminster, Somerset, ignored the National Lottery's notifications for nine days before reluctantly answering the phone.

Jefferson, his wife and their four children set up the syndicate in July 2025 to celebrate his birthday.

"Knowing the family has opportunities we have never imagined before is the best feeling in the world," Jefferson said.

The family syndicate matched five main numbers and the Bonus Ball in the lottery draw on 24 June.

Jefferson's daughter, Alexandra, chose the winning numbers.

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Jefferson said he thought they had won "a few pounds" after he received notifications telling him to check his lottery account, but assumed the subsequent follow-up calls and emails were from sales people.

When he eventually answered the phone and was told the news, he said he "wasn't convinced at all" that it was real.

"When I was told I'd won a million pounds, I genuinely thought someone was winding me up.

"I was absolutely floored. I was in tears. To think I'd spent nine days ignoring emails about something so life-changing is incredible," he said.

The prize will be shared between Jefferson, his wife Naomi and their four adult children, Alexandra, Lily, Emily and Taylor.

He said the rest of the family went "absolutely wild" when they heard the news and it was a moment none of them would ever forget.

"You always hear about people winning and wonder what it would feel like," Jefferson said.

"Now we're the family everyone talks about."