Luck Turns Around for Lottery-Winning Kent Couple

A couple who were shielding for almost two years “burst into tears” when they discovered they had won £300,000 on a scratch card.

Louisa Tomlinson, from ash, Kent, said that the win was “a dream come true” after she and her husband Greg had been through a “really tough couple of years”.

The 57-year-old mother of five had a stroke and while undergoing treatment, doctors discovered a hole in her heart.

The couple bought the winning scratch card at a shop in Broadstairs and now plan to fulfil their lifelong dream of owning their own house.

Ms Tomlinson said: "I'd just started a new job when I had the stroke, and in treating that the doctors discovered that I also had a hole in my heart.

"I haven't worked since, and Greg, a trained electrician, had to take a part-time delivery job so he was around to look after me as I recovered."

"I've always dreamt of owning our own home and to be honest, over the last 18 months I've thought of nothing else, scouring Rightmove for the perfect little cottage.

"I knew we could never afford it but the daydreaming kept me entertained while I was shielding... this really is a dream come true."

Ms Tomlinson said that they were searching for a “cosy two-bedroom” cottage complete with a wood-burning stove and garden in Norfolk.

Mr Tomlinson, 62, said they checked the card after getting back from shopping, with a "cup of tea in hand".

"I was busy with mine when Louisa said 'I think I've won £10,000' then paused and counted the number of words she'd revealed again and then said, 'hang on, I think we've won an awful lot of money’,” he said.

Ms Tomlinson plans to volunteer at her local hospital to give something back to the NHS in return for having taken care of her.

"Without them, I wouldn't be here today for another truly life-changing event, but this time a very good one," she said.