Unknown British person has just nine days to claim £500,000 lottery jackpot until they lose it

Winning the lottery is something many of us Brits dream about. It’s a common chat around the pub table; what would you do with the cash if you won?

Many people enter it on a weekly basis, hoping to bag a shedload of money that will change their life.

And imagine the absolute rush you’d feel if you did actually bag the jackpot. Or, the total nightmare if you did win, but never realised and didn’t claim it.

Well, a similar situation is going on now as an unknown person in the UK has just nine days to claim a £500,000 lottery jackpot until they lose it. Yep, ouch.

Allwyn, which operates The National Lottery, confirmed to LADbible that a Thunderball prize from the end of last year still hasn’t been claimed by the winner.

The winner hasn't claimed it. (Getty Stock Photo)

On the Lottery site, there is a whole list of big prizes that have not been claimed or have not yet been validated and paid.

It explains that it hopes for the lucky play to come forward and bag their prize in time. However, it explains: “If a valid claim is not received within 180 days (around 6 months) of the draw date, the prize and any interest earned on it will go to benefit National Lottery Projects across the UK.”

And in just over a week’s time, on 5 June, the claim for the Thunderball draw from 8 December 2023 will expire.

It was draw number 3396 with a whopping £500,000 prize sitting there unclaimed by its winner.

It’s said the winning ticket was bought in Redditch in Worcestershire and those vital winning numbers were 2, 15, 31, 35, 37 and the Thunderball 6.

People need to have told the National Lottery within 30 days if they think their winning ticket has been stolen or damaged - so that opportunity has long been and gone in this case.

It was originally bought in Redditch in December. (Matthew Horwood/Getty Images)

While prizes under £100 can be claimed at retailers, these massive prizes over £500 have to be claimed directly through the national Lottery itself.

And there are plenty of other prizes still sitting unclaimed, with a Set For Life winner from January having until 23 July to claim.

They had won £10,000 every month for an entire year with the numbers 7, 20, 23, 36, 44 and Life Ball 4. It’s thought this entry was bought in the Worthing District in the south-east of England.

Get checking those numbers, lads.

Please gamble responsibly. For help, support and advice about problem gambling, contact the National Gambling Helpline anytime on 0808 8020 133.