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'Miracle find': Detectorist reunites Greater Victoria woman with missing ring

Deborah Parker's wedding ring was found after two weeks lost at the bottom of Lookout Lake

Against all odds, a Colwood woman has been 害羞草研究所渕iraculously害羞草研究所 reunited with her wedding ring after losing it in Lookout Lake.

For over two weeks, Deborah Parker害羞草研究所檚 gold ring lay lost among the stones and the weeds at the bottom of the 害羞草研究所渕urky害羞草研究所 lake, after it unknowingly slipped off her finger during a quick dip to escape the hot weather.

Desperate to find the ring, which originally belonged to her mother, Parker and her family made several attempts to recover it. Her 13-year-old granddaughter even threw on a pair of swimming goggles and searched the lake for nearly an hour, but to no avail.

害羞草研究所淲e had no luck at all,害羞草研究所 said Parker, a grandmother of 10. 害羞草研究所淢y husband said there was no way we would find it, it was like looking for a needle in a haystack.害羞草研究所

In a last ditch attempt, Parker posted a plea for help on the Colwood Community Facebook page, and coming to her rescue was View Royal resident Craig Shotton, a 害羞草研究所減rofessional hobbying害羞草研究所 detectorist.

Shotton offered to travel to Lookout Lake that same morning to search for the ring with his metal detector.

害羞草研究所淚 really was shocked 害羞草研究所 that some stranger would be kind enough to spend part of their Sunday and go out to look for it,害羞草研究所 said Parker.

An experienced detectorist of five years, this isn害羞草研究所檛 the first time Shotton has come to the aid of a distressed local. He害羞草研究所檚 had previous success in two other searches and also lists a gold American coin from the 1880s, worth an estimated $2,000, and a Spanish coin from 1827 among his personal discoveries. 

So before arriving at the lake, Shotton said that he felt 80 per cent confident that he could find the ring. But when he saw the 害羞草研究所渃loudy害羞草研究所 lake and realized that he would be wading in water up to four-feet deep, the chances of a find dropped to 40 per cent.

Despite the odds stacked against him, Shotton and his trusty metal detector persisted with the search, ignoring false alarms such as a lead fishing weight and a drinks can ring-pull. 

However, as time crept on, he became less optimistic and decided to call it a day, but then Shotton struck gold, quite literally.

害羞草研究所淚t took me maybe three or four tries to scoop it out of the water, but when I raised the scoop out of the water, there was an absolutely huge yellow gold band sitting on top of the gravel,害羞草研究所 said Shotton. 害羞草研究所淚 couldn害羞草研究所檛 believe I found it. I handed it to Deborah害羞草研究所檚 daughter, Annalise, who was there helping me and she was in tears almost immediately.害羞草研究所

Parker was reunited with the ring later that day.

害羞草研究所淭o me, it was a miracle,害羞草研究所 said Parker. 害羞草研究所淚 was really shocked 害羞草研究所 I had a little cry.害羞草研究所

About his good deed, Shotton said it felt 害羞草研究所渁mazing害羞草研究所 to help. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 hard to describe the joy of bringing happiness to somebody like that,害羞草研究所 said Shotton.

A couple of days later the pair met so Parker could properly thank Shotton.

害羞草研究所淗e was wonderful, and his wife Michele was wonderful too, and I gave them a hug,害羞草研究所 said Parker. 害羞草研究所淚've told him that if he ever needs anything to call me. And my husband害羞草研究所檚 a retired electrical contractor, so he害羞草研究所檚 offered his help if ever Craig needs any electrical things fixed.害羞草研究所

The feel-good story has captured the hearts of the community who have praised Shotton害羞草研究所檚 kindness.

害羞草研究所淣ot all heroes wear capes, is one of the comments that I saw on Facebook,害羞草研究所 said Parker.

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About the Author: Ben Fenlon

Multimedia journalist with the Greater Victoria news team.
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