Few marriage proposals unfold in the middle of a mountain rescue, but that's exactly what happened Saturday on New Hampshire's Mount Kearsarge, where an injured hiker said "yes" as first responders carried her to safety.
On Saturday, 29-year-old Alexis Hardy of Sandown, NH, was ascending the Barlow Trail en route to the 2,937-foot peak with her boyfriend, Tim Dupere, when she suffered a lower-leg injury that made it impossible for her to continue on foot. Shortly before noon, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department was notified that Hardy needed assistance, setting in motion a coordinated rescue involving conservation officers, the Warner Fire Department and Hopkinton Ambulance.
After rescuers reached Hardy, they placed her in a rescue basket to begin the painstaking trek over the mountain. But even with the unexpected turn of events, Dupere wasn't about to let his carefully planned proposal slip away.
As the rescue got underway, he pulled out an engagement ring featuring a large oval-cut diamond in a classic four-prong setting on a simple yellow-gold band and asked Hardy to marry him.
She said, "Yes."
The heartwarming moment drew congratulations from the rescue team, who then continued carrying Hardy to the summit before descending via the steeper Rollins Trail. She was later transported by ambulance to Concord Hospital, where she was treated for her injuries. The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department even punctuated its official news release with congratulations to the newly engaged couple.
The ring itself reflects one of today's hottest bridal jewelry trends. Once overshadowed by the traditional round brilliant, the oval-cut diamond has surged in popularity over the past several years and is now one of the most sought-after engagement ring styles.
There are several reasons brides are gravitating toward the elegant elongated shape. Oval diamonds generally appear 10% to 15% larger than round diamonds of the same carat weight because they have a greater visible surface area. Their graceful silhouette also creates the illusion of longer, more slender fingers, while retaining much of the exceptional sparkle associated with the classic round brilliant cut.
The clean, timeless pairing of an oval diamond with a plain yellow-gold band also reflects a growing preference for understated settings that place the spotlight squarely on the center stone.
It's safe to say the proposal didn't unfold quite the way Dupere had imagined when the couple set out on their hike. But despite the unexpected rescue mission and a mountain descent by stretcher, Hardy came away with a memorable engagement story, a beautiful diamond ring and the confidence that her new fiancé will always come through when it matters most.
Credits: Images courtesy of the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department.