A LOCAL metal detectorist has returned a gold wedding ring to a family after it was lost in the sea – 27 years ago.
Steven Andrews, who runs the Jersey Lost Ring Metal Detecting Facebook page, presented the ring to Luis Vieira yesterday, whose father lost it while in the water at Grouville Bay in 1998.
After sharing his find on Facebook in search of the owner, Mr Andrews said he was contacted by Mr Vieira’s partner, who recognised the band’s unique engravings – Luis’ mother’s name and the year his parents married.
Mr Andrews told the JEP the find was “just by chance” as he searched out as far as the harbour wall.
“Everything lined up nicely, because I wasn’t going to go detecting that day,” he said.
“I crossed the ring just by chance and put it on Facebook, hoping that I might be able to find its owner. But I didn’t really have much hope, because it’s from such a long time ago.”
He explained that the ring remains in “mint condition” due to being protected by the harbour’s still waters.
“Once something goes into the sand at Grouville Bay, it’s quite protected, so it’s just been sat there since then.”
“It’s quite rare to find rings there,” he added.
Writing on social media in response to finding his father’s ring, Mr Vieira explained that it was lost at sea during a struggle his dad faced in deep water as a non-swimmer.
He said: “Mum and dad lived in Jersey for 31 years and only recently moved back to Madeira. I guess they had to leave for it to be found.”
“Mum still has hers with dad’s name on it and the date,” he added.
Mr Vieira will be returning the ring to his father in the coming months when he visits.
