A man who survived one of Britain’s worst avalanches disasters that killed four of his friends is one of five family members who have won £8million on the National Lottery.

Stephen Newton was on a winter climbing course with the Scouts when he was buried alive under a huge snowfall on December 29, 1998. The 34-year-old, from Dartford in Kent, was part of a group of seven who were caught in the disaster on the 4,000ft high Aonoch Mor, a peak next to the UK"s highest mountain Ben Nevis in Scotland.

Four of his friends were killed in the Christmas tragedy while Mr Newton and Sarah Finch, his girlfriend at the time, were plucked to safety after surviving in sub-zero temperatures for 16 hours with their instructor.

Mr Newton is planning to donate a “significant sum” to mountain rescue charities.

Mr Newton cheated death while on another Scouting trip in 1990 after going missing at sea for 24 hours in 1990 while on a night navigation sailing exercise.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/5827348/Man-who-survived-avalanche-wins-8m-on-National-Lottery.html