Their story is a 24 trillion to 1 story. A Welsh couple defied astronomical odds to win a million dollar prize not once, but twice.
Richard Davies, 49, and his wife Faye Stevenson-Davies, 43, listened to their instincts to defy the odds and gamble on Tuesday, claiming a second life-changing sum from Britain’s National Lottery.
Mental health expert Stevenson-Davies said in a statement released by the National Lottery: “We knew the chances of it happening again were prohibitive,” but added: “But we are proving that if you believe, anything is possible.”
The lucky couple first hit the jackpot in June 2018 when they won a hefty £1 million (approximately $1.3 million) with numbers drawn on the EuroMillions Millionaire Maker game.
Even after their win, the pair continued to buy lottery tickets, hoping they might get another scoop.
They were right to act on that hunch, but it was a little harder to pull it off the second time around. This time, it took four consecutive draws to win the big money.
“When you match two numbers in a Lotto draw, you automatically win the Lucky Dip for the next game,” explained Ms Davis, a hairdresser turned courier. “That’s what happened to us. We matched two numbers and won a free lucky dip. That put us into the next draw, all the way to the winning draw.”
In a Christmas miracle, the pair pocketed an extra £1 million, surprising experts who estimate the odds of a second consecutive win at 1 in 24 trillion.
Despite the victory, the two have not lost their desire to work. Ms Davis said she was determined to continue working as a courier seven days a week over the Christmas period, delivering the many packages ordered during the season.
Meanwhile, Ms Stevenson-Davies said she would continue to provide mental health support to clients, including on Christmas Day.
However, the couple has not yet decided how to spend their winnings, so they will need to think about it a bit. “The first time we gave people cars, we donated a minibus to the local rugby team and did our best to help friends and family… It was great to be able to make a difference,” Mr Davies said.
He added: “This time, you never know. I’m going to take my time and enjoy this moment.”
On the other side of the Atlantic, the United States has seen several two-time winners. In July, Massachusetts player Paul Corcoran won a total of $2 million by hitting the Powerball twice in one night.
Back in 2020, a Powerball player in Colorado got lucky twice a month using numbers he had used on a daily basis for 30 years. He said the $2 million prize was a tribute to his wife, whom he affectionately called “boss.”
