What started as a desperate plea on Facebook quickly turned into a feel-good story at Round Hill Beach in Dartmouth, thanks to a group of determined teens.

On Thursday, July 24, Madison Hodgins took to social media after losing both her wedding band and engagement ring while swimming.

“Is there anyone with a waterproof metal detector that could possibly come to Round Hill to help me find my wedding band and ring? I went in for a quick dip and it slipped right off,” Hodgins wrote.

A Beach Day Turns Into a Rescue Mission

Fifteen-year-old Adrian Brum of Dartmouth and his girlfriend Emma Almeida were relaxing at the beach when they heard the commotion. Adrian’s mom, Jen Brum, described how it all unfolded.

“We heard some shrieking, and the kids were asking for goggles. A woman had lost her rings, and everyone immediately jumped into action,” she said.

Dartmouth Teens Find Missing Wedding Rings and Save The Day
Courtesy Jen Brum
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At first, a handful of beachgoers searched the water with goggles, but with no metal detector available, the odds seemed slim. Jen remembered advice from Daryl Lopes, a local man known for finding lost rings with his waterproof metal detector. Although Lopes was out of state, he once told Jen that heavy rings rarely drift far in the sand; they sink and stay put.

Jen grabbed a couple of small orange nets, gave them to her son, and told him to search near a rock where Hodgins remembered stubbing her toe just before the rings slipped off.

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Persistence Pays Off

About 20 minutes later, clapping erupted from the beach. Adrian surfaced with both the wedding band and engagement ring in his hand.

“I just scooped right next to the rock, and there they were,” Adrian said, still surprised by his luck.

READ MORE: Lost Wedding Ring Found a Year Later on Block Island

Hodgins, who had recently been married, was overwhelmed with relief. “She was so excited, she hugged me,” Adrian said with a smile.

Jen beamed with pride. “I was so proud of him for not giving up. He didn’t even know her, but he just wanted to help make her day better. You can’t replace something like wedding rings," she said.

A Grateful Bride

Hodgins shared the happy update online: “Thank you to everyone who stopped to help us look, it was found!!”

She even offered a Venmo reward, but Adrian and his mom declined.

“No way,” Jen laughed. “He was just glad to help. I tried to explain to him how big of a deal this was, but he didn’t think twice about it. He just wanted to help.”

Dartmouth Teens Find Missing Wedding Rings and Save The Day
Courtesy Jen Brum
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What started as a lost ring turned into a heartwarming reminder of the kindness still alive on SouthCoast beaches.

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