A former paratrooper has become the latest winner of an Omaze Million Pound House Draw, scooping a £4.5 million coastal property in Norfolk. Daren Bell, 54, from Bournemouth, won the five-bedroom main house along with a four-bedroom guest cabin and a standalone home office, plus £100,000 in cash.
Mr Bell, who now works in facilities management, said he was 'gobsmacked' when he received the news. 'The only thing I’ve ever won before this was a £5 bottle of wine,' he joked. The property, located near Blakeney, features floor-to-ceiling windows, a steam room, gym, cinema room, and a heated swimming pool with an outdoor kitchen.
The draw raised £1.4 million for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). Ross Barraclough, RNLI Head of Region, said the funds will support volunteer lifeboat crews and lifeguards with training and equipment. Mr Bell, who lives near an RNLI station in Bournemouth, added: 'Even if I hadn't won, I was happy knowing I was supporting a worthy cause.'
It remains unclear whether Mr Bell will live in the property, rent it out, or sell it. The house is mortgage-free, with all stamp duty and legal fees covered.
