Goodchild Initially Thought He Won £71,000
The lucky player was the only ticket holder to match all five numbers - 3, 15, 24, 42 and 46 - and two Lucky Stars 9 and 12 in the draw last Friday, landing the eight-figure windfall for himself. His winning entry was purchased from a Co-Op store on Ledbury Road in Hereford, and it only took Goodchild five days after the draw to claim his winnings and go public.
He found out about his EuroMillions jackpot win on the night of the draw when he scanned his ticket on the National Lottery app on his phone, revealing he initially thought he had won £71,000 before putting his glasses on. He explained: 'It gave me the winning 'ping' sound and I thought I might have won a fiver or something. But when I checked I thought hang on, it looks like I've won £71,000. I put my glasses on to double check and then spotted that it was the jackpot prize and that all my numbers were circled.
“Then I read the prize amount again and realised that it was actually £71 million and just one winner - me! It was then that I called my mum and dad. Their reaction was one of complete shock. I still don't think it's sunk in for them.”
Goodchild, who is the recipient of the 15th biggest lottery prize in UK lottery history, then placed his winning ticket in his sock drawer for safe-keeping. He spent his Saturday night as planned having a pizza takeaway, drinking beer and watching rugby with his parents, despite becoming a jackpot winner the day before.
“It Couldn’t Have Happened to a Nicer Fella"
After going public, attention has quickly turned to how Goodchild will spend his new-found wealth, and he proclaimed: “'I'm not one of these winners who is going to say this win won't change me. It bloody well will, or at least I'll give it a damn good go!' Goodchild plans to leave his factory job of 24 years, busying himself instead with buying a new house and going on holidays to the Grand Canyon, Canada and Egypt.
Goodchild, an only child with no siblings, also plans to financially help his family, extended family members and close friends who have been there for him over the years. He didn’t reveal how much he would be giving his family members, but said: “I don’t think any of them is going to be working anymore, bless ‘em.”
Speaking about his parents, who originate from the south of Wales, he pleasingly said; “Like all parents, they worry about my mortgage, bills and how long I will have to work for. I've told my parents they can stop saving now and spend my inheritance.”
The big winner is highly thought of by staff at the Co-Op where he bought his lucky ticket. He has been visiting the same store for many years, and the store’s team manager, Sarah Swain, described him as a “lovely man”, stating he is the customer most deserving of the big win.
Goodchild’s fellow factory colleagues echoed Swain’s sentiments, stating: “It couldn't have happened to a nicer fella. He's a top bloke. Always laughing and chatting. He used to joke about buying a mansion and living like a playboy if he ever won the lottery - now he can really live the dream.”
