I won lotto on my dead mum’s numbers… but I accidentally ripped up & BINNED the ticket – my heart dropped in seconds

A WOMAN who played lotto on her dead mum's numbers almost missed out on her winnings after ripping up and binning the ticket.

Kelly Firth, 44, and her daughter used to head out to the shop every week to buy her mum Carol's Lotto Hotpicks tickets.

The Yorkshire grandmother would hand them a card with her numbers on it and ask they enter her into the week's two draws.

But after Carol died in 2021 Kelly forgot about the weekly tradition - until she found that card again.

So, in her mum's memory, she popped down to the shop and bought the same tickets - with the same numbers.

Kelly said when the numbers didn't show up on the first draw she tore up the ticket and biffed it in the bin.

But when Saturday's draw came around, the mum-of-two's "heart dropped" as Carol's numbers lined the screen.

Kelly said she started celebrating and screaming at her mum's urn - before realising she'd have to search the rubbish for the remains of the ticket.

She managed to though - and ended up pocketing £1,600.

Kelly recalled: "I still can't believe I won with mum's numbers. My daughter and I would nip to the shop for mum every week for her lottery.

"She had the same numbers on her little card that she gave me and always told me to put both sides on the numbers. We did the same numbers for mum for years and never - never did she win.

"I couldn't believe I won when mum never did."

The mum-of-two said when the winning numbers - 7, 17 and 37 - flashed across the screen Carol's favourite song came on.

Kelly continued with a smile: "I just knew she was still around looking after me when the numbers came up.

"I'm still in shock and always will be. It was a sign from mum and I still can't believe it."

The mum said Carol would always select her three numbers, and let the machine pick the rest.

Telling of how it unfolded, Kelly said: "Watching the TV on Saturday night, I recognised mum's numbers but I'd already ripped up the tickets and binned them.

I just knew she was still around looking after me when the numbers came up.

Kelly FisherLotto winner

"My heart dropped. I was jumping for joy one minute, telling mum we had won and that I knew she was around because she knew I needed this, and then panicking the next.

"I'd only just put my black bin out so I jumped in the big bin outside and pulled every black bin liner out and searched every one until I found the tickets which luckily still had the barcode intact.

"I was shouting to mum that we'd won, and I put the radio on to celebrate, and mum's favourite song which I played at her funeral was playing.

"It just confirmed that mum really was still there. I couldn't believe it."

Kelly ended up spending the winnings on a family trip.

I recognised mum's numbers but I'd already ripped up the tickets and binned them.

Kelly FisherLotto winner

She said: "I took my little family on a little trip to Blackpool with the winnings.

"My mum loved Blackpool and I know it would have meant a lot to her that her numbers helped us make some special memories."

Kelly said her mum was her best friend, and she missed her every day.

She said with a smile: "I can't believe her numbers brought us so much luck. It was like she was still here with us.

"She was certainly looking down on us. All I knew was that she was still around, looking after her family."

Earlier this year a man told of how he scooped a life-changing £3.8million almost missed out on the cash after thinking the lotto email was a scam.

Another told of how he was close to losing a £166,000 Postcode Lottery win - after scooping the jackpot just hours before he moved house.

One punter said she also almost missed out on £300,000 because of a silly Lotto app blunder.