A bride-to-be told how she almost drowned seconds after her boyfriend proposed to her – UNDERWATER.
Stephanie Walker was 12 metres (39ft) below the surface when Anthony Taylor, 27, held up a laminated card with the words ‘Will you marry me?’ written on it.
The 26-year-old was so shocked by the unique proposal that she gasped, filling her mask with water causing her to choke.
Thankfully diving instructors nearby managed to help Stephanie clear her mask in time for her to see Anthony holding out a diamond ring.
Stephanie then held up a card saying ‘yes’ before the couple returned to the safety of dry land where they were greeted by cheering spectators.
Stephanie, who lives with Anthony in Wolverhampton, West Mids., said: “We had mentioned marriage before but I had no idea he was going to do it then.
“We had never been scuba diving before so it was a once in a lifetime chance really.
“We had air tanks and masks on and were both waving at a camera while posing with the fish.
“Then there was a tap on my shoulder. I turned to see my other half with a blackboard bearing the hand-written message ‘Will you marry me?’
“The guide quickly handed me a board which had ‘YES’ on one side. I turned it over to check but it said ‘YES’ on both sides.
“It was literally completely out of the blue. We were told by the instructors before don’t breath though your nose but when he proposed I definitely did and suddenly everything filled up with water.
“Luckily we had the instructors on hand because they were all in on it. They sorted me out and we got back to the boat.
“It was scary when the mask filled up with water but there so many people around us it was over quickly.
“The instructors all seemed to know what they were doing, and slipped the ring to Anthony while they fixed my mask.
“Once I was capable of breathing again, I saw the ring and Anthony put it on my finger.=
“It is the sort of thing you read about but never think it will happen to you. I still can’t believe that is how he decided to propose. We will never forget it though.”
Stephanie and Anthony – who met a year ago – were scuba diving in the popular resort of Marmaris in Turkey when creative Anthony popped the question on August 27 last year.
The two-week break was the couple’s first holiday together and the groom-to-be’s first ever trip abroad.
Anthony, who works as a kitchen manufacturer, said: “We met on a night out and just clicked straight away.
“I was originally going to propose to Stephanie over dinner, or on the beach. But then I got a bit creative.
“I had bought the ring before we set off on holiday. And when I went to book the scuba diving trip, it got me thinking.
“I drew up the signs with the instructors beforehand. It was great planning it all.
“Stephanie needed some help with her mask after she saw the sign. She had water in her goggles but I knew she would be okay.
“We’ve got 18 months before the wedding. I can’t promise that I won’t do anything to surprise her at that. She will have to wait and see.”
The couple – who met on a night out in Wolverhampton a year ago – plan to get married in September 2015.
But customer services manager Stephanie already has her dream dress sorted after she won a wedding frock from Isaac Charles Bridal House in Birmingham.
The bride-to-be beat off 15,000 entrants to win the shop’s competition for a couple with the ‘perfect engagement’ story.
Ruth Rawson, who runs the shop with her sister Jo Rosewarne, said: “We were overwhelmed by the interest but we knew we had our winner the first time we read Stephanie’s story.”
