A BASINGSTOKE couple who won £1million on the EuroMillions are planning to buy a house in Popley.

David and Sam Mackie became the first of 25 millionaires in the first Mega draw last Friday, in which they also won a luxury trip to the private Makepeace Island in Australia.

Sam, 28, who is on maternity leave following the birth of their second son Carter four months ago, told The Gazette at a press conference at Tylney Hall Hotel this morning that she has only ever been on a plane to Leeds.

In fact, the couple’s last holiday was a £7.50 trip to Bude in Cornwall, in September with their sons Carter, and Taylor, four, paid for using tokens collected from The Sun newspaper.

Sam said: “Australia is a bit of an upgrade!”

The couple didn’t even manage to go on a honeymoon after marrying two-and-a-half years ago, and are now sorting out passports for their first holiday abroad as a family. 

David, 32, who works as an IT manager, added: “We went into town on Saturday and thought we could buy whatever we want but that’s not who we are and we don’t want to buy anything for the sake of it. It makes our lives a lot more comfortable and helps our boys, and us, see the world.”

The day after discovering they had won the prize package, the couple went out to buy a house having seen a property they liked on a new development in Popley.

They have now signed the paperwork for the four-bedroom detached new-build, which is due to be completed in June.

David, who is running 2,200 miles for charity Motor Neurone Disease Association, said: “They had been going quickly and there were only a few plots left. Luckily the one we wanted was still available and we got it. It is amazing to be in that position. I stress about mortgages and money and it is completely life-changing to not have to worry any longer.”

He added: “I always stress about money. I go to work to provide for the two boys. Now we get to enjoy the time with our boys more and take them to places we couldn’t have done. We can do it more often now and holidays are going to be a regular thing.”

David said he only bought the EuroMillions ticket at 7pm on October 31, just hours before the draw, after the National Lottery website came up on his computer screen.

He said: “I was cutting it fine. It was a lucky dip.”

The following morning he received an email saying he had exciting news and to check his account and it was then that he saw a messaging saying he had won £1m and a private island getaway.

He said: “I shouted to Sam to say ‘I think I’ve won £1m’. There was disbelief.”

David called his mum, but the couple had a 15 minute wait before they could contact Camelot to confirm the win.

He said: “It was the longest 15 minutes of my life.”

Sam added: “I was just thinking ‘shut up, you are lying to me!’ I had to look after the kids for those 15 minutes so I didn’t have time to think it’s actually happening. It’s still not sunk in.”

The mother-of-two is still deciding whether to return to work as a dental nurse.

She said: “I work Saturdays to pay for Christmas, but I don’t know whether I will return. I do like my job.”

David returned to work on Monday, and said: “It was very surreal to walk into the office and think ‘that happened at the weekend, now get on with my work’.”

Asked why they decided to go public with their winnings, David said: “I wanted the big cheque! That’s what swung it. We told a few people at the weekend. I told people I was buying a new house. We don’t want to lie to people. What’s the point in hiding it away? I want to be open and honest.”

The couple are now drawing up a list of the lucky seven friends and family who will join them on the holiday to Australia, where they will enjoy 14 nights of pure indulgence with their own private chef, personal spa treatments and sunset cruise.