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Arts & Entertainment

Close Call During Brooklyn Bridge Proposal


By

Jen Carlson

Published Apr 2, 2009

Modified Apr 2, 2009


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By

Jen Carlson

Published Apr 2, 2009

Modified Apr 2, 2009


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Sure, proposing on the bustling pedestrian walkway of the Brooklyn Bridge seems picturesque, but perhaps being up there holding on to a tiny ring with your nervous, sweaty, about-to-propose hands isn't actually the best idea. One would-be-groom has learned that the hard way, and he showed up on the Today show earlier to tell his harrowing tale.

Don Walling got down on one knee in front of his fiancee-to-be, Gina Pellicani, but "then the ring flew out of the box and fell to the roadway below." Whoops-a-daisy! Acting fast (and not so sensibly) he climbed down the bridge to get to the roadway, triggering a suicide jumper alert! Once he convinced the NYPD he wasn't looking to take the big dive, they helped stop traffic and he was actually able to retrieve the ring as his would-be-fiance and her family were watching (and filming) all along through the giant gaps in the walkway planks.

Could you imagine if she didn't say "yes"? The Today segment is after the jump, and it includes the footage the family filmed atop the bridge.

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Tagged

brooklyn bridge

Don Walling

Gina Pellicani

proposal

the today show

today


Jen Carlson

Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.

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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


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