National Lottery replies after teen loses out on £182m prize over £2.50 payment

13 December 2023 , 15:05

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Rachel Kennedy and boyfriend Liam McCrohan (Image: No credit)

The National Lottery responded after a teenage student lost out on a £182m jackpot because of a failed payment.

Rachel Kennedy, who was studying business at Brighton University at the time, matched all seven EuroMillions numbers back in February 2021. Unfortunately for her and boyfriend Liam McCrohan, the payment hadn't been made for the ticket, because she didn't have enough cash in her bank account to pay the £2.50 charge.

Camelot, which has run the state-franchised lottery since 1994, sent the Hertfordshire couple a "good luck" message for future draws this week. A spokesman for the company said: "We're aware of Rachel's story and hope she gets in early to buy a ticket for the next big draw."

It added the organisation wished her "the best of luck in future draws" before the £20m Lotto jackpot was won. Rachel and Liam had played their numbers 6, 12, 22, 29, 33, 6 and 11 for five weeks before they came up on the February 26 draw. She checked her National Lottery account and saw "winning match" displayed.

Previously talking to the Sun she said: "I called my boyfriend Liam and my mum into the room and they couldn't believe it either so I was like, 'Oh my god I need to call them'. I called the number thinking that I had won £182million and they said 'yeah you've got the right numbers but you didn't have the funds in your account for the payment of the ticket so it didn't actually go through'."

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In 2022, Joe and Jess Thwaite scooped a record-breaking £184,262,899 with a Lucky Dip ticket on May 10.

Hairdresser Jess, 44, said: “My dad played the National Lottery all his life and constantly dreamed of winning. He would always ask us what we’d do when we won, how we’d spend it, who we’d treat. It was a regular conversation and I feel like he was preparing us. Maybe that is why I seem so chilled, as I have kind of been ready to win for years.”

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Rachel Hagan