**Woman’s Incredible Journey in Finding Missing Wedding Ring Goes Viral**
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/Woman-finds-lost-wedding-ring-061625-1-e6b8629e2e42449a89b07c258af2d4d9.jpg)
Sarah Maune, a mother of two, recently had a snorkeling adventure in Florida that didn’t go as planned. After finishing breakfast with her kids, her father, and a few close friends, she decided to swim out to a coral reef, about 100 yards offshore, like she had been doing every day of their vacation. Armed with her GoPro to film footage for her annual snorkeling videos, a sudden realization struck her midway – her wedding ring was still on her finger.
In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Sarah shared her moment of forgetfulness, “I remember looking down and seeing my ring and thinking about how a barracuda had bitten someone wearing shiny jewelry in Florida just the day before. I completely forgot to take it off.” The ring held deep sentimental value for the nurse from Washington, Mo. Her husband, Joel, had personally picked out the halo diamond ring with diamonds on the band in white gold.
Despite trying to brush off the oversight, upon reaching the reef, Sarah’s heart sank as she realized the ring was gone. Undeterred, she retraced her steps to the shore with a plan to search for it. With ideal ocean conditions like calm and clear waters in her favour, Sarah remained determined to find her ring, a symbol of her enduring love story with her husband.
As Sarah hunted for her ring, her family remained back at the pool, with Joel, who is afraid of the ocean, especially after a shark sighting that morning. Alone in her search, Sarah had faith in her ability to locate the lost ring. Her perseverance paid off when she spotted a shimmer amidst seashells buried in the sand, nearly halfway back to the coral reef. Excitedly, she retrieved her ring, capturing the moment on her GoPro.
Sarah’s unexpected journey took a viral turn when she shared the ordeal on TikTok. The first video explaining the mishap garnered massive attention, amassing 10 million views, while the follow-up video of finding the ring received over 8.8 million views and thousands of comments. Her story of determination and eventual success resonated with many, prompting an outpouring of support and similar stories from viewers.
Reflecting on her advice to others in similar situations, Sarah emphasises the importance of staying calm and retracing steps, prioritising safety above all. Grateful for the miraculous retrieval of her wedding ring, Sarah looks forward to sharing this memorable experience with her children in the future, embodying the enduring value of love and perseverance in the face of challenges.