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Lost Engagement Ring Found After Falling 118 Feet From Michigan Skybridge
A picture-perfect proposal at Skybridge Michigan nearly turned into a nightmare after an engagement ring slipped through the grating and fell more than 100 feet onto a ski slope below.
According to Boyne Mountain officials, Rochester Hills resident Trevor Van Camp had planned a surprise weekend getaway and chose the scenic Skybridge Michigan at Boyne Mountain to propose to his girlfriend, Danielle Jenkins. As he got down on one knee, nerves took over. When Van Camp pulled the ring from its box, it slipped from his fingers and dropped through the open metal grating of the bridge, plunging 118 feet into the snow-covered slope below.
The couple said there was a brief moment of panic before they decided to search for the ring. For the next two and a half hours, they combed the ski slope using metal detectors. Help soon arrived from Pat Harper, a night shift snowmaking supervisor at Boyne Mountain, who happened to have metal detectors in his car.
Just as hope was beginning to fade around 10 p.m., Harper’s detector finally picked up a signal. After digging through the snow, he uncovered the edge of the missing ring buried beneath the surface.
As the couple prepared to leave the resort, they received the call they had been waiting for — the ring had been found.
Danielle Jenkins later praised Harper for saving the day, saying the experience turned into a story they will always remember as part of their engagement.
What could have been a heartbreaking moment instead became a memorable reminder that sometimes even the most unexpected setbacks can have a happy ending.
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By: NBC Palm Springs
January 6, 2026


