A South London tradesman says he was "blown away" when he scooped a life-changing £760,000 in an Absolute Radio’s Make Me A Winner competition.
Herbert Appleton, 50, from Charlton, received the surprise call from presenter Gemma Atkinson on Friday afternoon, just after finishing work for the week.
An air conditioning installer working across southeast London, Mr Appleton said the win has given his family "peace of mind" during a difficult period.
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Mr Appleton said: "I thought it was another scam call at first – then Gemma started speaking properly and it all just hit me. It was like a brain meltdown – I couldn’t take it in. I’m still blown away."
His wife Amanda, a salon assistant, is currently managing health issues and waiting for an operation.
Mr Appleton continued: "My only priority is looking after my loved ones. Amanda’s doing okay, but this will make things easier and just give us some breathing space."
The couple currently rent their home but now hopes to buy a property. While Mr Appleton joked that Holland Park might be "a bit of a pipe dream," he said homeownership is now within reach.
The couple also plans to take a special holiday abroad once Amanda is well enough to travel.
Mr Appleton said: "She’s always wanted to go to Santorini in Greece, so it will be lovely to give her something to look forward to."
He is also considering a trip to Las Vegas. He added: "I’m more into boxing than football. Maybe we’ll catch a match in Vegas – why not?"
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