Lucky UK winner claims 拢52m lottery prize - instantly becoming as rich as Ed Sheeran and Gareth Bale
It is the fourth time this year a EuroMillions jackpot has been won by a UK resident, with almost 拢200m being paid out in total.
Friday 4 August 2017 17:57, UK
A lucky UK EuroMillions player has instantly become as rich as Ed Sheeran and Gareth Bale after coming forward to claim a 拢51.7m prize.
Last week's jackpot remained unclaimed until Friday, when Camelot urged players to check their tickets.
Just one ticket matched the winning numbers in the draw for 28 July, which were 5, 9, 29, 31 and 41, with the Lucky Stars 2 and 4.
The winner, who has not been identified, pockets a cool £51,702,049 - putting them in the same wealth bracket as Real Madrid forward Bale, who is worth £54m according to the Sunday Times Rich List, and pop megastar Ed Sheeran, whose fortune is estimated at £52m.
It continues a rich vein of luck for British gamblers, being the fourth UK ticket to hit the EuroMillions jackpot this year.
In June another player , while in February two ticket-holders split a prize worth nearly £40m.
The week after that a UK winner collected £14m.
One of Europe's biggest ever prizes went to Chris and Colin Weir in Ayrshire, who scooped £161m in 2011.
National Lottery organiser Camelot says tens of millions of pounds go unclaimed each year due to lost tickets bought in shops.
It said the jackpot will be paid out once the ticket has been validated and the winner will then decide whether or not to go public.
Andy Carter, senior winners' adviser at The National Lottery, said: "We're delighted the ticketholder has come forward to claim their prize.
"This year is proving very lucky for UK players."