On 7/26/25 right at 6:30 pm, I received a text from Rachel saying, “Hi, My husband lost his ring in the ocean at about 4:15 pm on Holden Beach, Low tide. Do you think you can help or is it pointless to try? What do you think?” We went back and forth with questions and answers, like how deep, how did it come off, what kind and metal is the ring, and if they would be there the next day at low tide. Unfortunately, Rachel and Henry, her husband was leaving the next day at noon and low tide wasn’t until 4:05 pm. I also learned that Henry was at least waist deep when he lost it. Neither one of the situations were good. I had to rely on Google earth maps to try and pinpoint the location, and I don’t like going in the ocean without someone keeping an eye on me. I also ask Henry and Rachel to see if their landlord would allow me to park at the rental.
Meanwhile, I called my good friend Burwin, who has helped me more times than I can count. In fact he’s taken many of the calls I couldn’t because of vacation, busy with another call, or I just wasn’t available, and he has always come through. This time was no different. When I called him, about the only questions he had were, where and when are we going and what are we looking for. I told him that Henry had lost his Platinum wedding band in about waist deep water on Holden Beach. As always, he agreed, and I told him I’d pick him up the next day about 2:15 pm.
The next morning, I got word from Rachel that the landlord agreed to us parking in the rental driveway, which was a huge help. I picked Burwin up at 2:15 and we headed up to Holden Beach. On the way, Burwin and I discussed the game plan, and Burwin mentioned the fact that the wind would be blowing from the south. Since Holden Beach runs east and west, a south wind meant that any wind would more than likely kick the waves up making a more interesting search. When we arrived and found our way out to the beach, Burwin would do an east/west parallel to the beach search starting at waist deep water. I took a north/south search perpendicular to the beach going out to about waist deep. Even the best of plans needs to be tweaked, and this was no different. At waist deep the waves were breaking over our heads and pushing us around like we were bobbers. After about 30 minutes or so, I went up the beach to check my grid lines and make sure I was still online. As I’m coming back down the beach, I noticed Burwin was coming out of the water. Burwin doesn’t come out of the water unless he’s finished, or he’s found what he’s looking for. As soon as I looked at him, he had the smile! I knew he had it. With everything said and done, Burwin was chest to shoulder deep, waves breaking over his head and getting knocked off the target about 3-4 times and still came up with Henry’s ring. Great Job Burwin! A platinum ring should usually be stamped on the inside, but neither Burwin nor I have good enough eyesight to see it. We ended up asking a young lady sitting on the beach and she confirmed it was stamped Platinum. I took a picture of the ring sitting on a shell and sent it to Henry and Rachel saying “KA-Boom!”
Monday, I put the ring in the mail, and they got it today, Wednesday.
Burwin – Once again, Thank You!
Henry/Rachel – Thank you for contacting me. Wish you two only the best!
Jim
