then won massive £1m jackpot the next day
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A DELIVERY driver is celebrating a huge £1m lottery win – just one day after testing positive for Covid.
Grandfather Mark Francis, 49, was sat at home "coughing and spluttering" when he decided to check his emails for his lottery numbers.
But he was left bemused when it said he had winnings to claim on the EuroMillions UK Millionaire Maker.
He swiftly rang the lottery company he heard the magic words: "Yes Mr Francis, you are a millionaire."
The 49-year-old, who hails from Swansea, South Wales, said: "The day before I had been driving and I felt unwell. I went home to do a lateral flow test and it came up positive.
"The next day I was watching daytime TV and thought that I might as well check my emails to see if I had won anything.
"I could only see that I had one number matched on the draw so I was confused. I didn't realise I had won on the raffle draw and there is only one winner.
"The woman on the phone paused for a long time and then said: 'Yes Mr Francis, you are a millionaire.' I don't even remember what I replied. It's all a blur."
Mark, who works for Euro Car Parts, then rang his partner Helen Taylor, 50, to tell her the life changing news.
Carer Helen was about to help a woman into the shower when she told Mark it wasn't a great time to call.
She said: "I told him 'Mark I can't take the call at the minute' and he was like 'You need to take this. I'm not messing about.'"
Mark spent his days in isolation looking for a new house online after informing his close family about the win.
The couple, who have four children and five grandchildren, spent the next few days "in denial" while Mark focused on getting over the virus.
I don't even remember what I replied. It's all a blur,
Mark Francis
He then got a notification to say the money had gone into his account - before looking at his balance to see the string of zeros.
He said: "I saw it and I thought oh it is real. We told immediate family straight away but kept it quiet other than that.
"I do the lottery every week and I even did it after winning because I still had a few quid on my online account. I keep telling people you've got to he in it to win it."
The key worker couple plan now plan to stick with their day jobs after working through the whole of the pandemic.
Mark, who previously worked as a hotel night manager, said: "I want to keep working. I'm in a job I really enjoy and I get on really well with my colleagues.
"We had already booked an all inclusive holiday to Rhodes so we've kept that and are going in the summer.
"We are planning to help out family with the money and buy the house with a nice garden. We want to stay in the area.
"We'll probably go on a big family holiday next year maybe in Majorca and are planning a London trip to go to the Natural History Museum and to see the Crown jewels."
Mark has already splashed out on an Audi Q5 and would also like to take a "once in a lifetime trip" to see the British Lions in Australia 2025.
He added: "The rest of the money will be a nice nest egg for when we retire. It takes the pressure off now and we don't need to work overtime."
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