A DISTRAUGHT bride-to-be who lost her engagement ring on a north coast beach has praised the father and son metal detectors who helped reunite her with the missing diamond band.
Beth Aithne said Andy and Ryan McCloy were "just amazing at what they do" after coming to her aid when she mislaid the white gold ring at Downhill Strand in Co Derry on Sunday.
Ms Aithne had issued a desperate social media appeal for help, telling her followers that she was "so heartbroken".
She said the ring was designed in the United States by her fiancé Ryan Clarke and her mother and was "absolutely priceless to me".
Despite searching for the ring for hours that night, Ms Aithne and her fiancé failed to locate it, even returning the following day after renting a metal detector.
But after spotting her Facebook post, Andy and Ryan had been on the beach from 5am with their professional-grade metal detectors. Helped by other members of the public, Ryan made the invaluable find in the sand.
In another post on Facebook, Ms Aithne wrote of her joy.
"Father and son dream team Andy and Ryan had been out this morning and arrived back this evening helping us look for our ring and thanks to their expertise, Ryan McCloy found it within five minutes of coming back," she said.
"We never would have found it on our own.
"If you ever lose anything on the north coast beaches and surrounding areas do check out Andy and Ryan McCloy as they are just amazing at what they do."
