I won £1m EuroMillions jackpot but I won’t even take home £100k because of age-old ‘pact’ I made with my colleagues
A MAN who won £1million EuroMillions jackpot said he won’t even take home £100,000 because of an age-old “pact” he made with colleagues.
Darren Gargan, from Doncaster, split the eye-watering cash with the dozens of workers.
The maintenance manager won the eye-watering windfall after buying a EuroMillions ticket on Friday, November 3.
Darren almost missed on the whopping win after not checking the ticket as he was busy with work.
Instead of bagging the full sum, he decided to split it with his colleagues at the Ye Olde Bell Hotel in Retford.
Being the leader of the 17–year-old syndicate meant he had to share the cash with its 13-members.
Mr Gargan took over the position 15 years ago – with various staff members being part of the group for five years.
The group, which includes waiters, office, maintenance and spa staff, didn’t know they had won until a week after the draw.
The 52-year-old said: “The next week I was repairing the hotel driveaway when I had another email.
“I checked again and asked fellow syndicate member, and Sales Office Manager, Lindsey [Fraser] to look at the email.”
After realising they had hit the jackpot fellow worker Mr Fraser began creaming and shouting out of happiness.
She said: “I was so excited, I was screaming and shouting around the sales office and then went off to find who else was working that day and was in the syndicate.
“Unfortunately only two were on site so I had to phone the rest. It was a mad, but a lovely few hours telling everyone the amazing news.”
Darren now plans to splash the cash on dream holidays to Lapland, Australia and America.
The dad-of-two also wants to treat his family this Christmas and pay off the bills.
He added: “The win will make such a difference to so many people, not just the syndicate members, but their families and friends too. And to win just before Christmas is perfect timing.”
“Christmas is the hotel’s busiest period so we are putting our syndicate celebration on ice, but I can’t wait for our get-together, it is going to be very special.”
It comes as a mum who won £1.2 million on the National Lottery left her boss fuming over the cheeky way she quit her job.
Caroline and Graham Parris, both 65, of Reading, Berkshire, matched five numbers and the Bonus Ball in the Lotto Must Be Won draw on November 1.
Elsewhere, two sisters told how their £300,000 winning scratchcard was ripped to shreds.
Lucy Dixon and sibling Annie were forced to endure an agonising wait to see if they could claim their prize after the ticket was torn.
