I got a text message a little after 11 a.m. on Friday, July 16th, from Mike saying “Hi Jim, Mike here. I just lost my wedding band at Myrtle Beach near 26th Ave North, by the Anderson Oceans Club and Spa. It’s a size 11 palladium band. I lost it in the water about 30 minutes ago. Any chance you can help?” I called him to get some more details, like how deep he was in the water, and whether he could meet me to show me the area. We agreed to meet on the beach at 3 p.m. He and his wife were in town from Maryland on a short trip, so he was limited on time. He lost his ring about an hour before high tide and low tide wasn’t going to be until a little after 7 p.m. I had a second lost ring at the same location, about 100 yards apart that I had gotten the day before. I was hoping I could find this ring and then re-search the other area for the second ring. Then I got to thinking, maybe Jim Brouwer would like to help. That way I could search for this ring and have Jim cover the area for the second one. When I talked to Jim, he jumped at the chance but couldn’t be there until a little later.
I got to the beach on time and met Mike. He showed me the area, confirming that his wife had marked the area when he lost his ring. Unfortunately, the wind had picked up which caused large waves coming straight into the beach. There was no way I could walk into the surf let alone try and detect. I sat there for at least an hour watching the waves crash onto the beach while waiting for Jim. After a while the conditions calmed down enough that I could detect. I gave Jim a description of the other ring and showed him the area. We both went to work trying to find these rings. With the information I got from Mike, I really expected to find his ring on the slope. After 2 hours of searching the slope and going out knee deep in the ocean, I hit a good target. I was using my White’s PI detector, so every signal sounds really good. I was expecting to dig up another bottle cap, which is about the only thing I was finding. I had the target in my scoop and shook the sand and shells out of my scoop and saw his palladium ring. I took a picture and sent it saying Bingo! He showed up about 45 minutes later with a big smile on his face knowing his ring was going back on his finger where it belonged.
Mike – Thanks for trusting me to help find your lost treasure.
Jim
4 Replies to “Man’s Palladium Wedding Band Lost, Found and Returned Myrtle Beach SC,”
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Thanks again Jim! It honestly felt like a miracle when you texted me with the ring. My whole family was stunned. You’re a lifesaver.
Jim, I’m Mike’s father-in-law. When I heard about the crisis, I brought food & water to them on the beach, together with MY father-in-law’s metal detector. (He had just passed away, so we were all in SC for a funeral.) I had left my own metal detector in Virginia! Duh. Never again. I actually bought it to find MY lost wedding ring a few years ago, and had a similar success story, but when I saw the waves crashing on the beach, like there had been a storm out at sea, and heard the lifeguards furiously whistling, as a Christian I prayed you’d find it, but knew it was like looking for a needle in a haystack or a ring in the Atlantic Ocean! We started making plans on how to replace it, but still trusted your skill with God’s help. Thank you so much. You made a young couple and extended grieving family very happy.
I’m Mike’s mom, and when he called to relay this incredible story, I felt that God had directed you onto Mike’s path. The likelihood of finding a ring in a rough surf is not great, but you did it! Having lost my own rings years ago (found later under the bottom flaps of a paper grocery bag!!) I knew all too well the panic and hopelessness of that loss. Thank you, Jim! You are now part of Mike & Heleena’s adventures! What stories they have to tell!
I love this!!!!