Ring too small leads to near-amputation for 23-year-old woman after engagement in Cheshire

A 23-year-old woman from Crewe, Cheshire, faced a potential finger amputation hours after her fiancé proposed when the engagement ring was several sizes too small. Hadaway was rushed to Crewe Leighton Hospital after the ring could not be removed, leaving her finger swollen and painful as doctors worked to save the digit.

Hadaway and her fiancé, Jacob Bugliarello, met through a friend and became engaged in August after dating for eight months. The couple, who planned a future including a house and a 2027 wedding, described the moment as joyful but overshadowed by the emergency that followed. The engagement ring, a size R, was the same width as rings she wears on her other hand, but it did not fit this finger. She recalls forcing the ring on because she was excited to show it off, despite recognizing it was tight.

Unable to remove the ring, Hadaway and Bugliarello sought help at A&E that evening. Doctors attempted conventional loosening techniques, including lubricating the finger with Fairy Liquid, but the ring would not slip off. They also tried to loosen the band by tying twine to it and pulling. When those methods failed, clinicians made the decision to cut the ring to preserve blood flow to the finger. Hadaway was told that waiting until morning could have resulted in the loss of the finger due to complete loss of circulation.

The moment was distressing for the couple, but it prevented a far worse outcome. Hadaway said she could have lost her finger if she had waited longer, noting there was no circulation in the affected finger after the ring was removed. She has since hoped the ring can be repaired by a jeweller so she can wear it again once healing allows.

Despite the drama, the couple remains optimistic about their future. They are saving for their first home and still see a wedding as a milestone in 2027. Hadaway said, “When you know you know,” and recalled that Bugliarello’s proposal came earlier than planned because a family member’s health concerns prompted them to move ahead. They also expressed relief that the proposal was not in Turkey, where a hospital visit would have been more complicated.

The incident has underscored a practical health message: if a ring becomes tight, seek medical attention promptly rather than attempting to force it off. Medical staff emphasize that swelling and loss of circulation can escalate quickly, and delaying care can lead to unnecessary injury or tissue damage.