Omaze prize draw: Ex-paratrooper wins £4.5m Norfolk house

Daren Bell, 54, has won the latest Omaze Million Pound House Draw, receiving a coastal home near Blakeney worth £4,500,000, as well as £100,000 in cash. 

The house, complete with a swimming pool and coastal views of the Blakeney salt marshes and harbour, consists of a contemporary main house with five bedrooms as well as a four-bedroom guest cabin and standalone home office. 

The house is located near Blakeney in Norfolk (Image: Omaze)

Mr Bell, originally from Watford, currently lives in Bournemouth. 

He was a paratrooper for four years, before leaving to take up sports parachuting and skydiving instructing. 

The house is complete with a swimming pool, steam room, yoga space and gym (Image: Omaze)

He said: "When I got the knock on the door to tell me I'd won the house in Norfolk I was gobsmacked, it’s not your average Friday night you find out you’ve won a £4.5m house. 

"The first thing I did was head straight to the local pub to celebrate, and of course, I got a few rounds in.

"When I woke up on Saturday I thought I must’ve eaten too much strong cheese and dreamt the whole thing, but now I've seen the house it's finally starting to sink in."

The house includes stunning views of the north Norfolk coastline (Image: Omaze)

The former skydiver entered the charity prize draw, which raised £1,400,000 for the RNLI, for just £10. 

All rooms in the guest cabin have direct access to the private and enclosed gardens, with a terraced entertaining area complete with kiln fireplace (Image: Omaze)

He added: "Entering any competition is a bit of a leap of faith, but as a skydiver I’m used to that.

"Even if I hadn't won, I was happy knowing I was supporting a worthy cause."

Ross Barraclough, RNLI head of region, said: "We are absolutely delighted by the £1.4 million raised by the Omaze Norfolk House Draw.

"It is a fantastic amount of money which will allow us to continue saving lives at sea."