I got a call passed along by Darrin Gray a fellow Ring Finder about a couple whose evening stroll in a park in St. Louis Park, MN, took a disastrous turn. While crossing a pedestrian bridge over a creek, they accidentally dropped their cell phone into the water below. To make it even more gut-wrenching, it was a brand-new Apple iPhone—less than two months old—and supposedly waterproof. Ouch! They reached out to see if I’d be interested in attempting a recovery. I was about 45 minutes away, with a packed schedule for the next couple of days, but I had a narrow window that evening. It was already 6:30 PM, so by the time I’d arrive, it’d be pitch dark. I quickly gathered my gear—waders, lights, scoops, and my metal detector—stuff I hadn’t pulled out in over a year—and hit the road.I met the client in a dimly lit parking lot under the glow of streetlights. Suited up and ready, I waded into the creek with my tools and a dash of optimism. The drop spot was right in the center, about 4 feet from the bridge’s drip line. Sounds straightforward, right? Not so much. The water was littered with sunken trees, branches, and debris, but the real nightmare was the mud—18 to 20 inches deep. Every step took 3-4 minutes: plant one foot, wiggle the other free from the suction, repeat. It was exhausting!After about 20 minutes of slogging to the center, I started detecting. The once-clear water turned into murky soup as I scooped up targets. But persistence paid off—out popped the iPhone! Now came the trek back to shore, phone in hand. It was dead at first, but the client later confirmed it charged up and worked perfectly.Moral of the story: Even « waterproof » tech isn’t mud-proof, but with the right tools and grit, lost treasures can resurface. If you’ve got a similar saga, hit me up! Paul Nolan Ring Finders #LostAndFound #MetalDetecting #iPhoneRecovery
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