THE skint single mum who lost out on a share of £38million after she quit her
fellow bus drivers’ EuroMillions syndicate moaned yesterday: “It’s been a
week from hell.”
Struggling Hazel Loveday, 26, said her 12 pals had not been in contact to
offer her a slice of the jackpot — and insists she would have helped them
had she won on her own.
Hazel left the syndicate because she could not afford the £2 a week. Her place
went to another driver six months ago.
She said: “If I won I’d definitely give the lads at the depot a million or
more.
“I’d have been in touch with them if it was the other way round. We were
like one big happy family in work.”
Hazel told how she was in hospital when her colleagues hit the jackpot — after
she collapsed at work the day before.
She said: “They all know that I was in hospital because I was in work when I
collapsed but they haven’t sent a card or any flowers.
“I don’t know why they haven’t been in touch yet — they must be caught up with
their win.”
Hazel has yet to hear from any of her jubilant workmates, who all immediately
quit their jobs as drivers for bus firm Stagecoach in Corby, Northants.
Several have indicated they will see her all right.
The 12 each scooped £3.1million last Friday.
The day before, Hazel had collapsed at Corby Central bus station with a
headache and dizziness.
John Noakes, 49 — who was one of the winners — rushed to her side and stayed
with her until an ambulance arrived.
She was taken to nearby Kettering General Hospital — and was discharged on
Sunday.
The mum was still lying in hospital when a pal told her the drivers had won.
She said: “I thought it was a joke. But then I saw it in the paper. I was
happy for them. I don’t want to dwell on what could have been.
“John really looked after me when I was ill. He stayed by my side and texted
me to see if I was OK. It has been a week from hell. I haven’t been able to
go into work.
“I feel very weak and dizzy and all of this is making it worse.”
Hazel, who has a little boy aged four, added: “Obviously I would have loved to
win the millions but that isn’t what has made me ill.”
As the lucky drivers toasted their win earlier this week, Ally Spence, 57,
admitted: “She must feel really bad.”
Fellow winner Jim Patton, 55, said: “We all like Hazel, she’s a good friend.”
Stephen Derrick, 53, added: “If we do decide to do something about her it
will be private.”
She said all the drivers had considered jacking in the syndicate last
September after their working hours were cut.
It had been running for more than two years and their £1,248 outlay had
returned just £212.
Hazel, whose investment had topped £200, pushed for them to switch to the
Irish lotto because she heard the odds gave a better chance of winning.
In the end she was the only one to drop out — as the rest decided to soldier
on with EuroMillions.
Hazel, who shares a modest two-bed house in Kettering with son Matthew,
confessed: “I don’t know who took my place.
“I just wish whoever it was all the best — they brought in the good luck.”