A metal detectorist was called to the rescue after a woman lost her engagement ring on a beach.

Kim Rojas, 36, noticed her ring was missing the day after she went for a swim with her two children on Whitstable beach.

She posted a frantic appeal on a Lost and Found Facebook group asking if anyone had found it.

Kim said: “I went for a swim with the kids [on Saturday July 20]. My ring had been a little bit loose. I didn’t notice until on Sunday night it had gone.

“I put out a [Facebook] post on Monday morning. Somebody replied saying that I need somebody with a metal detector.”

Kevin Mankleow, 59, land officer for the Medway History Finders, was told of Kim’s devastating news by his friend Eric and started searching the beach with his metal detector.

The metal detector-enthusiast of 40 years spent two hours on the beach - but realised he was in the wrong place.

After Kim arrived to give him some direction, it took only 40 minutes to recover her diamond and sapphire engagement ring.

Kim added: “He pulled out ten ring pulls and loads of bottle tops. He did a beach clean up at the same time as looking for my ring.

“I had lost hope, but he said it is going to be here, the metal detector will find it.

“Suddenly, he pulled out the ring and I just wanted to hug him.”

Kevin described the moment he discovered the ring as one of the "biggest satisfactions".

"She was stunned. When I found the ring, it made my stomach go a bit funny. It was great. Her face just dropped" - Kevin Mankelow

He said: “She put on a message up and my friend Eric called me.

“I was there for two hours but I was searching in the wrong place. But then Kim turned up and I found it within 40 minutes.

“She was stunned. When I found the ring, it made my stomach go a bit funny. It was great. Her face just dropped.”

Kim and her partner Robin got engaged in November 2017, but are yet to confirm a date for their nuptials.

When she revealed the news to Robin, he was less than impressed.

She said: “I think he said something like, ‘shut up, no way.’”

This was not the first time Kevin had been called out to search for valuable items.

He found and returned a ring for someone who had lost it on Herne Bay beach.

Facebook users contact the Medway History Finders if they lose anything - from car keys to jewellery.

Kevin said: “If anyone loses anything, they tag me in it.”

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