McDonalds Couple Win £1.3 Million
Last Updated: Wednesday 7th August 2013, 15:25
A young couple who both work at the same McDonald's restaurant in Cardiff are celebrating after winning a £1,369,847 share of the 12 July Lotto jackpot. Emma Cox and Luke Pittard have been together for four years and have a two year old daughter called Chloe. They currently live with their parents, and are looking forward to being able to purchase their first family home.
The lucky win was discovered by Emma, who is area manager for McDonald's in Pontprennau, when she checked the winning Lotto numbers on Thursday morning. However, she had been the recipient of a good omen on Wednesday.
"It's funny," Emma says, "because on the day I bought the ticket, I went back to work and there was a money spider on my hand. So I said to one of the girls that I was going to win the lottery that night - obviously never believing it would happen!
"I've played the lottery since it started. I think I'm still a bit stunned, as anyone would be, but obviously absolutely over the moon. I'm still recovering from the shock but looking forward to starting to spend some of the winnings."
£1.3 million can buy a lot more than a happy meal, so it's no surprise that Emma and Luke have more ambitious plans in mind. "The whole family's on cloud nine and we're looking forward to a nice holiday - possibly a cruise as I've always wanted to go on one - and then we'll start looking for a new house. Chloe's only two so is a bit young to understand it all really, but I'm sure she'll be suitably spoilt!"
This latest Cardiff win only adds to the bumper crop of Lotto prizes that have been claimed in Wales in 2006. In March an ex-teacher name Mike Straddon also won £1.3 million, and Bob Bradley, a great-grandfather in Llanelli won £3.5 million. Factory worker Gareth Cooper won £2.4 million in April. The stream of winners continued when Paul Thomas, a student at Cardiff University, won £100,000 from a National Lottery Scratchcard. And we can now add the names Emma Cox and Luke Pittard to the roll of honour.