Candlewick Lake wedding ring recovered after paddleboarding mishap

A wedding ring was successfully recovered from Candlewick Lake near Poplar Grove, Illinois, following a paddleboarding accident on July 4, 2026.

The incident occurred when a man named Jack fell from his paddleboard while attempting to transition from his knees to a standing position. The ring slipped off his finger during the fall.

A metal detector specialist conducted a grid search of the 210-acre man-made lake, which is characterized by shallow water, low visibility, and a thick layer of mud at the bottom. During the search, the specialist sifted through various debris, including fishing lures, sinkers, and pipes, to locate the item.