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Fellowship of the ring: Newly-engaged couple thank NYPD | Fellowship of the ring: Newly-engaged couple thank NYPD |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Be it fate, or a stroke of good luck, Daniella Anthony and John Drennan are soon to be reunited with their precious piece of jewellery. | Be it fate, or a stroke of good luck, Daniella Anthony and John Drennan are soon to be reunited with their precious piece of jewellery. |
"We are so happy, we can't believe it," the young couple said after discovering their lost engagement ring had been found. | "We are so happy, we can't believe it," the young couple said after discovering their lost engagement ring had been found. |
The pair, from Peterborough in the UK, had flown to New York to celebrate their 10-year dating anniversary. | The pair, from Peterborough in the UK, had flown to New York to celebrate their 10-year dating anniversary. |
Mr Drennan said he'd put a lot of thought into the proposal. | Mr Drennan said he'd put a lot of thought into the proposal. |
Speaking to BBC News on Sunday evening, he said he had carried the ring around in his pocket for two days before finding the right moment. | Speaking to BBC News on Sunday evening, he said he had carried the ring around in his pocket for two days before finding the right moment. |
"I want to clarify that I did not propose over a grate in Times Square - that's where we lost it," Mr Drennan said. | "I want to clarify that I did not propose over a grate in Times Square - that's where we lost it," Mr Drennan said. |
The momentous occasion had taken place in Central Park a few hours earlier. | The momentous occasion had taken place in Central Park a few hours earlier. |
"The time was right. There were autumn leaves everywhere and not many people." | "The time was right. There were autumn leaves everywhere and not many people." |
Daniella said yes straight away but they both knew the ring wasn't the right size. | Daniella said yes straight away but they both knew the ring wasn't the right size. |
"I tried to tell John it was too big, but he insisted I wear it," Ms Anthony said. | "I tried to tell John it was too big, but he insisted I wear it," Ms Anthony said. |
"I told her it was fine. I was just so happy to finally call her my fiancée after all this time," Mr Drennan added. | "I told her it was fine. I was just so happy to finally call her my fiancée after all this time," Mr Drennan added. |
The happy couple decided to grab a bite to eat and see the Christmas Spectacular in Times Square when the ring escaped. | The happy couple decided to grab a bite to eat and see the Christmas Spectacular in Times Square when the ring escaped. |
"We were walking back to the hotel. I can still visualise the ring. Bouncing once… bouncing twice and then it was gone," Mr Drennan said. | "We were walking back to the hotel. I can still visualise the ring. Bouncing once… bouncing twice and then it was gone," Mr Drennan said. |
Daniella and John called police straight away and officers were able to jar the grate open with a crow bar. | |
They looked underneath, with the aid of torches, for at least two hours | |
But it was to no avail. | But it was to no avail. |
"We just presumed it was gone. In the end, we had no choice but to walk away and try to enjoy the rest of our weekend," Mr Drennan said. | "We just presumed it was gone. In the end, we had no choice but to walk away and try to enjoy the rest of our weekend," Mr Drennan said. |
Daniella was inconsolable and so they left without leaving their names with police, feeling hopeless. | |
They arrived home on Sunday and said they were planning on going straight to the jewellery store to buy another ring. | They arrived home on Sunday and said they were planning on going straight to the jewellery store to buy another ring. |
"I couldn't stand the thought of her being without one," Mr Drennan said. | "I couldn't stand the thought of her being without one," Mr Drennan said. |
But just moments after they touched down at the airport, a friend alerted them to the social media campaign being driven by the New York Police Department. | But just moments after they touched down at the airport, a friend alerted them to the social media campaign being driven by the New York Police Department. |
Police had posted the CCTV footage of the couple trying to get the ring from the grate and used Twitter to appeal to find them. | Police had posted the CCTV footage of the couple trying to get the ring from the grate and used Twitter to appeal to find them. |
"Hey guys, is this you?" the friend asked the couple. | "Hey guys, is this you?" the friend asked the couple. |
"We could not believe it, we really thought it was gone," Ms Anthony said. | "We could not believe it, we really thought it was gone," Ms Anthony said. |
"We don't use Twitter - we had absolutely no idea this was going on. But we are so happy." | "We don't use Twitter - we had absolutely no idea this was going on. But we are so happy." |
"We are so thankful to everyone - especially the New York Police Department and everyone who shared our story," the couple said. | "We are so thankful to everyone - especially the New York Police Department and everyone who shared our story," the couple said. |
They also wanted to send a heartfelt thank you to everyone who stopped to help look at the scene. | They also wanted to send a heartfelt thank you to everyone who stopped to help look at the scene. |
There was one family in particular that stayed on for moral support. | There was one family in particular that stayed on for moral support. |
"They had a little girl who gave Daniella a big hug and told her not to worry," Mr Drennan said. | "They had a little girl who gave Daniella a big hug and told her not to worry," Mr Drennan said. |
"At the time, that hug meant everything." | "At the time, that hug meant everything." |
The couple will now liaise with the NYPD to get the ring safely returned to their home in Peterborough. | The couple will now liaise with the NYPD to get the ring safely returned to their home in Peterborough. |