Mom Threw Away Lottery Ticket That Could Be Worth £12 Million, Family Claims

A mom of two from South Wales says she may have missed out on a life-changing £12 million National Lottery jackpot after her winning ticket was accidentally thrown away.

Kath Main, from Abercynon, says she's played the same six numbers—08, 10, 26, 30, 35, and 42—for the past 20 years, hoping one day they would finally hit the jackpot.

Here's what reportedly happened:

• Draw date: June 6
• Kath's mother bought and checked the ticket at a local Londis store.
• The lottery machine reportedly showed no winning result and didn't make its usual confirmation sound.
• Believing the ticket wasn't a winner, it was thrown into the trash.

Everything changed when Kath later saw news reports about an unclaimed £12 million jackpot with the exact numbers she had been playing for years.

"I checked the numbers and realized they were mine," Kath said. She immediately called her mother, who insisted the ticket had already been checked. When Kath explained it matched the jackpot numbers, her mother was stunned, saying the ticket had already been tossed in the trash.

Unfortunately, by the time they realized what may have happened, the garbage had already been collected, leaving them without the original ticket.

Now, lottery operator Allwyn has opened an investigation into the claim. Kath has submitted proof of purchase along with doorbell camera footage showing her mother around the time the ticket was bought.

Kath says the waiting has been incredibly stressful.

"I just feel sick all the time. It's the waiting and not knowing," she said.

According to Kath, Allwyn told her that while a faulty lottery terminal is considered highly unlikely, a human error during the ticket check could still be possible. The investigation could take up to 30 days before a final decision is made.

Londis store owner Karan Kumar said the lottery machine may have been acting up and added that it would be incredible if Kath's claim turns out to be true. The shop currently has no CCTV footage available because it is being renovated.

An Allwyn spokesperson said the company is carefully reviewing the case. The operator noted that the UK National Lottery is one of the few major lotteries that allows players to claim a prize even if a winning ticket has been lost, stolen, or destroyed, provided they can prove their claim. The company's priority, the spokesperson added, is ensuring any prize is paid to the rightful winner.