It already had the makings of an unforgettable marriage proposal – a suitor dropping to one knee under the bright lights of New York City.

But one British couple’s happy moment turned into a disaster not long after the bride-to-be said "yes".

John Drennan proposed to his partner Daniella in Central Park but as they walked through Times Square the engagement ring – which was apparently too big – slipped off her finger and tumbled through a subway grate.

The scene – like something from a romantic comedy – was captured on CCTV, and it sparked a hunt for the mystery couple after the ring was rescued by NYPD officers.

Thankfully, the story has a happy ending and the ring is on its way back to John and Daniella.

Do you know the couple? Email [email protected].

Police announced on Sunday that they managed to identify and locate the pair, but by then John and Daniella had already flown back to the UK.

Arrangements are now being made to return the ring.

John tweeted: "I actually proposed in central park and it fell off as walking… Spent ages trying to find and police stopped me from physically climbing down the drain! So so happy to have ring back! God bless America!"

He added: "I cant believe its been found – We are so so happy!! Thank you @NYPDnews.

"Incredible! Thought was lost forever!"

The incident sparked a global search for the hapless couple, with millions watching the footage online. John said friends alerted him after seeing the appeal.

After the ring was found, John is said to have called in to a Crimestoppers hotline and said: "Hey, it’s me."

Police put out a call for help on Saturday after they recovered the ring and were unable to identify the couple.

CCTV footage from Friday night shows distraught Daniella putting her hand to her mouth in horror, and the couple lying on the pavement and staring down the grate in Times Square in a desperate bid to spot the ring.

The pair were forced to leave empty handed, but they had flagged down police officers and explained what happened.

Officers managed to retrieve the ring in daylight on Saturday and clean it.

John is said to have bought a second ring from a shop in New York before flying home.

It was initially thought that the ring had fallen through the grate as John proposed.

In its appeal, the NYPD wrote on Twitter: "WANTED for dropping his fiancée’s ring in @TimesSquareNYC!

"She said Yes – but he was so excited that he dropped the ring in a grate.

"Our @NYPDSpecialops officers rescued it & would like to return it to the happy couple. Help us find them?"

The appeal quickly went viral – more than three million people watched the video in just 24 hours – and police were flooded with tips.

The breakthrough was announced on Sunday, with police saying the couple had been identified and located.

The force tweeted: "We would like to thank everyone who shared this story!

"The (now) happy couple is back in their home country, but thanks to your retweets they heard we were looking for them!

"We’re making arrangements to get them their ring back. Congratulations!"

Police later tweeted a picture of John and Daniella, writing: "Thank you, Twitter. Case closed! Love, John, Daniella, and the NYPD."

The photo shows Daniella wearing the replacement engagement ring as the smiling couple raise a glass to the camera.

John had called a Crimestoppers hotline to claim the ring, which was apparently too big, NYPD spokesman Sgt Lee Jones told the New York Times.

John told the call-taker: “Hey, it’s me."

Mirror Online has contacted John and Daniella for comment.

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