A metal detectorist has reunited a woman with her late mother’s chain—which was linked to her engagement and wedding rings.
Tessa Le Gallez, 24, was devastated when her necklace chain broke while she was swimming at Les Amarreurs beach in Guernsey on August 20.
On the chain hung her late mother’s engagement and wedding rings which Ms. Le Gallez says make her “feel close” to her deceased mother.
She called a local metal detectorist, Matthew Kneebone, 50, and asked if he could possibly help her get the heirlooms back.
“My mum passed away in April, and it was her wish that I had her rings,” Ms. Le Gallez, an office manager, said.
“I put it on a strong chain around my neck because sometimes in the cold your fingers shrink, and you can lose your rings.”
She went swimming, and, by complete accident, her dog jumped on her, she said, and his claws got caught in the chain, which took all of his weight and snapped.
“I looked for ages but couldn’t find them. I was panicking and worried I would never see them again,” she said. “They’re so precious to me because they make me feel close to my mum.
“That’s when I called Matthew and asked for help.”
Mr. Kneebone, a stonemason, told her he would be able to find the lost rings when there was a spring tide again.
Two weeks later, on September 1, Mr. Kneebone and Ms. Le Gallez headed back down to the beach.
Within 10 minutes, Mr. Kneebone found the chain and, within half an hour, all of the heirlooms had been found.
“I was elated. I couldn’t have been any happier. It was such a relief. Those rings mean the world to me and they’re incredibly sentimental,” Ms. Le Gallez said.
“I‘ll never be able to thank him enough, and I’ll always be grateful. He’s the most selfless man I’ve ever met in this life, and people like him make the world a better place.”
Mr. Kneebone, who has been metal detecting since he was 14, said: “Tessa was very grateful and so emotional. She ran up to me and gave me a big hug.
“It’s a really good feeling when you manage to find something for someone.”
