A grandmother who won a £4 million property through an online lottery initially turned down the prize after mistakenly believing she had won a horse.
Mary Dickson, 72, became the winner of a four-bedroom coastal property in Cornwall, but at first told Omaze "thanks but no thanks" because of the misunderstanding.
Omaze did not reveal her exact prize straight away, instead taking her to the property for an in-person viewing. When she arrived, the first thing Mary spotted was a horse standing in a field, which led her to believe that was her winnings.
Mary, from Castle Douglas in south-west Scotland, said: "I said thanks but no thanks. Then I realised I'd actually won a house, not a horse, so I quickly said thank you very much!"
She secured the property near the fishing village of Coverack in Cornwall with a £15 ticket, reports the Daily Star.
Omaze brought her to a reveal location where the mystery prize house would be shown on a large screen. But the first thing she noticed on arrival was a horse in a field, which she assumed was her prize.
She said: "The first thing I saw when I turned the corner was a horse."
Mary now intends to enjoy the new property, which boasts panoramic sea views, a swimming pool and direct access to Porthbeer Cove, before deciding its future.
Her husband John, 76, was driving Mary home from work when the Omaze team first made contact.
Mary said she almost did not pick up the call, as she had no mobile signal and normally ignores calls from unfamiliar numbers.
She explained: "I ignored Omaze's calls at first. But they texted me, so I checked them out online. They looked like the real deal, so I thought I'd better call back. Thank goodness I did!
"All the family came to see the reveal. I was gobsmacked when they told me it was the house. We headed to the pub to celebrate, but I didn't have anything stronger than a coffee. Although I'm looking forward to a glass of wine by my new pool."
The property comes without a mortgage, with all stamp duty and legal fees paid, alongside £250,000 in cash and £200,000 worth of furnishings.
Mary said they were not rushing into any decisions, saying: "We're going to keep it for a while and just enjoy it and we can't wait to host Christmas here with all the family".
Mary, who has spent 34 years working in the public sector, bought her £4 million winning entry for £15 through her Omaze subscription, having only begun entering after a colleague won an Omaze house in the Lake District in 2023.
She remarked: "When I saw that he'd won, it made me realise real people really do win these houses – I did wonder if he'd used up all the luck around here, but it must've rubbed off on me."
She added: "There must be something in the water up here. I texted him after I found out – as he was the only person I knew who could possibly know how I was feeling."
Gran Declined £4m Omaze Mansion After Horse Mix-Up