A young couple who briefly thought they had won a staggering $200 million lottery jackpot were left heartbroken — and the National Lottery has now responded to their story.

For many people, dreaming about a lottery win is a simple pleasure. It’s fun to imagine what life might look like with unlimited freedom and financial security. But for 19-year-old Rachel Kennedy and her 21-year-old boyfriend, Liam McCrohan, that dream felt shockingly real for one brief moment.

The couple from Hertfordshire had been playing the same EuroMillions numbers for weeks. One day, Rachel opened the lottery app and saw the words “Winning Match.” Her heart raced. She immediately called Liam and her mother into the room. All three were convinced they were suddenly millionaires. After all, the jackpot that night was an incredible £182 million.

But the excitement quickly faded. Although their numbers — 6, 12, 22, 29, 33, 6, and 11 — matched the winning combination, one crucial detail stood in the way. As a university student, Rachel didn’t have enough money in her account for the ticket payment to process. When she called to confirm the win, she was told the ticket had never actually been purchased.

Rachel tried to stay calm, but Liam admitted he was devastated. He had already imagined what their new life might look like.

After their story made headlines, a National Lottery spokesperson offered a kind message. They acknowledged what happened and wished Rachel the best of luck in future draws — reminding her to buy her ticket early next time.