Lotto luck from 'beyond the grave' - the dad whose death inspired his son's £1m jackpot

Lotto luck from 'beyond the grave' - the dad whose death inspired his son's £1m jackpot EXCLUSIVE: Lotto jackpot winner Darren McGuire reveals how his late dad James inspired his mega £1million win after almost 14 years A lottery millionaire has told how his dad's lucky numbers won him the jackpot 'from beyond the grave'. Darren McGuire, 48, wanted to remember his late father, Joseph, after he died from cancer at the age of 63. He decided to use his dad's birthday, 22-3-48, and the day of his death, 21-9-11, as his lottery numbers to remember him. It took almost 14 years, but Darren scooped the £1m jackpot last year, married his sweetheart Laura in the summer, and they have two daughters. Ahead of Halloween, he spoke of his 'superstitious' Lotto line, as lottery chiefs Allwyn revealed the winners who believed they had help from the 'other side'. Tina Freeman from Tamworth won £1.3m playing her late dad's numbers in 2008. In 2022, Mark Francis of Swansea scooped £1m after asking his late dad for a bit of luck. Three years ago, Deana Sampson from Sheffield won £5.4m after her late brother Glyn told her she would win in a dream. Darren, a Phoenix Nights fan of Bolton, Lancashire, said: "I was not superstitious before he died. I kept writing the numbers down when I registered his death and decided that after eight years of bad luck, we might have some good luck. "I used them every Wednesday and Saturday for 13 years. We had other little wins with three numbers and the odd lucky dip. Then we hit the jackpot." He added: "I would tell everyone to keep the faith and keep playing those numbers. "I do feel like my dad was looking after me." Darren, a former gas engineer, decided to give up his job after working for more than 30 years, often seven days a week. He married long term sweetheart Laura, 41, in May and they went on a European cruise with their two school age daughters, visiting Rome and Barcelona. "I now feel it was my dad looking out for us," added Darren, a Man Utd fan. "When he was really ill we were by his side for the last week of his life and helped mum as much as we could. I reassured him that I would never leave mum on her own. "He had a good sense of humour. He said to me, 'Don't come looking for me, I won't be coming back,' which really made me laugh. We went to the grave with the cheque to thank him. "I am not really superstitious but I do think that we are all a big ball of energy and not everything is lost at the end of your life. Using his numbers gave us some hope that good would come of it, and in the end, it did." Darren added: "I bought a five-year-old Volvo but not much else apart from that, we have had some nice holidays. I will not pay off the 10-year mortgage deal, it would cost too much. "My wife says when I die, she is going to put the money in the coffin. I want the money to work for my wife and kids so they never have to struggle. If the children go to university, they will be able to get good jobs. "Dad had so many operations, he always put a brave face on and was a true gentleman. It helps with my grief, he never met the kids but it does feel like he is looking out for them - that he is here in spirit if not in body. Winning was the best natural high that I have had in my life other than the kids being born and getting married. "I have this dream now where I think the old work van is outside and I have to go to work again in the morning. Then I wake up and realise I don't have to do that anymore. As daft as it sounds there is the burden of what to do with the money. "We live on the interest at the moment and don't need to work, but I want to start my own business to give a sense of purpose and focus in life. "My dad was 63 when he died; he was diagnosed at 55 with colon cancer. It spread because he ignored the symptoms, and by the time it was too late, it had spread to liver and lungs. "He had so many operations and lost half his liver and a lung. He really went through the mill but he always put a brave face on and he was a true gentleman. "I chose the lottery numbers to remember him by - the jackpot helped with my grief."