A couple who discovered their teenage son was clear of cancer a few days after winning a £2m lottery jackpot say it is the "most amazing feeling ever".

John and Allison McDonald bought a lucky dip ticket that matched all six numbers on Wednesday 18 December.

Three days later, the couple from Stockton-on-Tees heard that 15-year-old Ewan was free of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a form of cancer that develops in the lymphatic system.

Image: The couple have handed in their notices at work

The teenager had been undergoing chemotherapy after being diagnosed in May.

"What a start to 2020," said Mr McDonald, who revealed his "legs were trembling" as he rang lottery operator Camelot to "check that what I was seeing was in fact right".


His wife, who had been to the dentist, saw she had a missed call from John.

She said: "I just thought, 'Oh no, why is he calling me - something must be wrong, something terrible has happened, has something gone wrong with Ewan?'

"Never did I believe when I called him back he would be telling me we had won the lottery jackpot."

The "fantastic win" had given the couple the "financial security to buy a lovely new family home", Mrs McDonald said.

Image: Ewan has got the all-clear after being treated for cancer

Mr McDonald said: "Everyone always dreams of winning the lottery at Christmas - and talks about how amazing this would be - but Allison and I never believed it would happen to us - and it has.

"And then to receive news that Ewan's latest scans are all clear is just truly amazing. We are so thankful.

"2020 is certainly looking like being one amazing year for the three of us. It is just like all of our lifelong dreams came true in the space of three days."

Image: The couple will now be able to spend more time with their family

Mr McDonald, 62, frequently worked 70-hour weeks as a security officer while his wife, 49, worked in an opticians. Both have now handed in their notices.

"We can both now afford to stop work and spend time with our family making memories - something we could only have ever dreamed of doing," Mrs McDonald said.

The couple also have two other children and three grandchildren.

Mrs McDonald said it was "just the most amazing feeling ever".