Julian Harrison lost his wedding ring while swimming on Boxing Day at a Devonport beach, then found it two days later with a metal detector. / Brett Phibbs
A newlywed husband lost - and found - his wedding ring in the tide at an Auckland beach just four days after getting married.
Julian Harrison was showing his new wife Rose Watson how easily his ring could come off his hand while swimming at Cheltenham beach on Boxing Dayafternoon when his demonstration took an all too realistic turn.
The ring slipped off Harrison's finger and out of his grasp, floating through the water before disappearing in the sand.
Julian Harrison with his wife Rose Watson and their 2 year-old daughter Alice. Harrison lost his wedding ring in the tide at Cheltenham beach on Boxing Day. Photo / Brett Phibbs
It was like everything happened in slow motion, Watson said.
"His face … he looked at me and just started diving. He was pretty worried."
What was a stressful situation became an experience reminding the couple of the kindness of strangers, as friends and family members helped them scour the sand for hours, marking out the spot and digging once the tide went out.
"If it was just Jules and I we would have been devastated," Watson said.
"But it actually turned out to be a pretty special day."
"I said 'my wedding ring' and he was really stoked for me."
The couple, who have a 2-year-old daughter, Alice, were married in Auckland three days before Christmas after flying home from Melbourne where they relocated for work recently.
Julian Harrison with his wedding ring - safely on his finger again. Photo / Brett Phibbs
"It was great," Harrison said of the wedding.
"Everyone turned up and we had a great time."
Harrison said he still hadn't had the ring resized, but planned to get onto it soon.
