Lost Necklace On Rope Swing Flip, Wading Pines Campground, Washington Township NJ, recovered by Edward Trapper, NJ Ring Finder
Incredible Necklace Recovery from Swift River Waters – Against All Odds
I received a call early in the morning from Joe, who was camping and had just lost a cherished necklace and cross in a nearby stream. While doing a flip off a large branch that hung over the river, the necklace flew off mid-air and landed somewhere in the water below. Understandably, Joe was desperate to recover it—this necklace meant a lot to him.
Water recoveries are always challenging, but rivers add an extra layer of difficulty. With recent heavy rains, the current was moving fast, and Joe confirmed the water was about chin-deep. It sounded almost impossible, but I agreed to come out and assess it in person—always willing to try every possible way to help.
Once we arrived at the campground, I geared up with my wetsuit to face the ice-cold water and quickly found myself in chest-deep, fast-moving current. I was too buoyant to keep steady on the bottom, so I strapped on my full weight belt. Even with the added weight, holding my position was nearly impossible once I found a signal.
We rigged a rope from the overhanging branch across the stream, and I used it to hold myself steady while swinging the detector inch by inch. After more than an hour of fighting the current, exhaustion began to set in. I kept returning to a strong signal just past the middle of the stream, but it was nearly unreachable due to the current’s strength.
Finally, I made one last desperate attempt. I lunged forward and found footing on a submerged root or stump—just enough to brace myself. I pushed the scoop out in front of the coil and gave it one clean shot. As I lifted the scoop, I could feel items clanking inside. In the dark cedar water, visibility was almost zero, but as the scoop broke the surface, I saw it—gold. The entire bottom of the scoop was filled with Joe’s large gold chain and cross.
I let out a massive cheer, loud enough that half the campground probably heard. It was a hard-fought recovery in brutal conditions, but one I’ll never forget.
Another successful water recovery by Edward Trapper – The NJ Ring Finder.
If you’ve lost something in the water, don’t give up hope. Call me right away at 609-713-3926 and let’s bring it back!