Organisers of the National Lottery have launched an urgent appeal to find a missing EuroMillions winner who has yet to claim a staggering £1 million prize. The ticket was purchased in Birmingham on 15 August 2025 and carries the unique code VLPL 28287, but the fortunate holder remains unidentified as the deadline looms.
Time Running Out for Millionaire Maker Winner
The UK Millionaire Maker winner has until midnight on Wednesday 11 February 2026 to come forward and claim their life-changing windfall. This represents one of seven substantial unclaimed prizes from the National Lottery, with total winnings exceeding £14 million across both Lotto and EuroMillions games currently awaiting collection.
"Check Your Pockets" Urges Lottery Official
Andy Carter, senior winners' adviser at Allwyn which operates the National Lottery, has made a passionate plea to potential winners. He emphasised that people should thoroughly search their homes, vehicles, and clothing, particularly coats and wallets where tickets might be hidden.
"There's a real possibility the winner could have been in or around Birmingham in the week leading up to the 15 August draw," Mr Carter explained. "Maybe it isn't even a local winner - perhaps someone was just passing through the area. We're urging everyone to tell their friends and family to check their pockets one more time."
What Happens to Unclaimed Prizes?
If the £1 million prize remains unclaimed by the Wednesday deadline, the entire amount plus any accumulated interest will be redirected to support National Lottery-funded projects throughout the United Kingdom. These initiatives span arts, heritage, community, and sports programs that benefit communities nationwide.
How to Claim Lottery Prizes
All National Lottery draws provide winners with 180 days to claim their prizes. Players who believe they might hold the winning ticket are encouraged to contact the organisation immediately. The National Lottery Line can be reached at 0333 234 5050, or queries can be sent via email to help@national-lottery.co.uk for assistance with the claims process.
Record-Breaking Lottery Wins in UK History
The search for this missing millionaire comes against the backdrop of some extraordinary lottery successes in recent years. The largest lottery win ever awarded to a UK ticket-holder occurred on 19 July 2022, when one fortunate player scooped the record EuroMillions jackpot of £195 million - the biggest National Lottery win of all time.
Just months earlier, Joe and Jess Thwaite from Gloucester collected a then record-breaking £184,262,899 with a Lucky Dip ticket for the draw on 10 May 2022. At the time of their life-changing win, Joe worked as a communications sales engineer while Jess operated a hairdressing salon with her sister.
Mr Thwaite, then 49, recalled discovering their fortune: "I woke up early to an email telling me we had won. I looked it up and saw the amount and didn't know what to do. I couldn't go back to sleep. I didn't want to wake Jess up so I just laid there for what seemed like forever. I spent some time searching for property with no budget limit, which was a novelty!"
As the clock ticks down for Birmingham's missing millionaire, lottery organisers remain hopeful that someone will discover the valuable ticket before Wednesday's deadline, potentially joining the ranks of Britain's lottery success stories.
