Heart attack survivor had ‘sixth sense’ she would win huge prize on Lottery scratchcard

Heart attack survivor had ‘sixth sense’ she would win huge prize on Lottery scratchcard Safe in the knowledge that her scratchcard was a winner, Ms Daven-Thomas barely slept and the following morning - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments Become an Independent member to bookmark this article Already a member? Log in A mother of three who astonished medical staff by surviving a heart attack has now delighted her children by offering to purchase them a home in Italy following a lottery win. Kate Daven-Thomas, 58, scooped £300,000 on a National Lottery scratchcard and plans to assist her grown-up children onto the property ladder in Milan. Ms Daven-Thomas, who currently works at a florist in Minehead in Somerset, spent 30 years living and bringing up her family in Italy before her poor health forced her to relocate back to the UK. “I honestly feel like I’m the unluckiest lucky person,” she said. “First, I was unlucky enough to have a heart attack, lucky enough to survive, unlucky to have to leave my children due to my care needs and now lucky again, winning enough to do something I’ve dreamed about for years. “Face-timing my children to say I’d won and to start house-hunting was utterly magic, and spending last week with them in Milan looking for their forever home, simply incredible. “The Italians have a phrase, la dolce vita, meaning life is sweet – I can honestly say, life has never been sweeter.” It was Ms Daven-Thomas’s commitment to a specific scratchcard that has brought joy back to her life. “For years I have had a sixth sense I was going to win a large amount of money on a scratchcard so I have a routine, a Cashword Extra scratchcard every other day, it’s the little wordsearch I do to relax before bed,” she said. “But because I play last thing, it did make for a frantic moment when I discovered at 9.50pm I had matched 11 words and won £300,000.” Having revealed the top prize and realising it was nearly closing time at her local supermarket, she threw on some clothes and hurried up the street, desperately hoping it was still open. “When I arrived, they were shutting up and had just switched off the National Lottery machine, I was horrified,” she said. “I sidled up to the shopkeeper and, not wanting anyone else to know, whispered in her ear, ‘please switch on the machine, I think I’ve won £300,000’. “She looked a bit worried that I expected my winnings there and then but kindly switched it back on and was able to confirm it was real. “I skipped home through the streets of Minehead barely able to believe my luck, and wondering if my surgeon’s advice to live a gentle life included heart-racing, lottery winning.” Safe in the knowledge that her scratchcard was a winner, Ms Daven-Thomas barely slept and the following morning, after making the emotional call to her children, decided she wanted to tell her work colleagues. “They were so excited for me and what this win meant for my family but sensibly reminded me the colourful piece of card I was waving about was worth a small fortune and should be somewhere a lot safer,” she said. “It was another comical moment as I dashed home once again with my winning scratchcard.” Andy Carter, from National Lottery operator Allwyn, said: “We know many scratchcard players have their own little rituals, and for Kate, that meant enjoying a game of Cashword Extra before bed each evening. “What a moment it must have been to discover she’d won £300,000 instantly.” Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments