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Sanitation Department Finds Ring That Was Flushed Down Toilet

UNION CITY, Calif. (CBS Sacramento/AP) - Sanitation workers have returned an heirloom diamond and sapphire ring to a San Francisco Bay Area family whose 3-year-old son flushed it down the toilet.

After several attempts, Union Sanitary District crews found the ring last week, about a month and a half after it disappeared from Munazzar and Mehvish Tapal's home in Union City.

Wastewater Collection Supervisor Shawn Nesgis tells KTVU-TV that the ring traveled about a third of a mile.

Crews flushed the sewer lines and discovered the ring after vacuuming up debris. Nesgis equated the discovery to finding a needle in a haystack.

"This is a rarity," Nesgis told the station. "I've been here 20 years and this is the second that I know of."

The Tapals say the ring's return was a miracle. Munazzar Tapal estimates the ring has been in his family for 60 years.

"I was waiting for that miracle and the funny thing is it came in its own time and in its own way," Mehvish told KTVU.

The family initially called a plumber who charged them $400 and could not find the ring. The Sanitation District did not charge the family anything. They said they were just doing their job.

(TM and © Copyright 2014 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2014 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

 

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