POPPING the big question is a daunting enough prospect for anyone, but Hessle man Mike Bell certainly took the plunge when he proposed to his girlfriend of three years, Millie Qualter.
Mike, 25, had just completed a gruelling swim across the Humber to raise money for the hospital that cared for his young son, when he emerged from the murky waters to propose.
Mike said: "I got the idea a couple of weeks before. It just popped into my head when I was training for the swim.
"When you are swimming you can get a bit bored and all sorts of things pop into your head."
Mike strapped the ring to his arm during the swimming challenge.
He said: "I kept checking that I still had the ring on me and it hadn't fallen off.
"I was really nervous for the whole day. I had the challenge to worry about, but I think I was more nervous about proposing to Millie when I got out.
"I don't like being the centre of attention, but I was so glad when she said yes.
"It topped off a really great day."
Mike and Millie met three years ago and their first date was a trip to Scarborough.
The couple welcomed their little boy Harry a year later.
Millie, 22, said: "Harry was born with a cleft lip and he has already had a number of operations at Leeds General Infirmary.
"He will have to have more operations when he is older as well, but the staff on ward L42 have been absolutely fantastic and we just wanted to thank them and give something back, which is why Mike decided to do the challenge."
Mike completed the swim with his father, Malcolm, 64, but had not told anyone about his plans to propose to Millie when he got out of the water.
Millie said: "When Mike got out of the water I went to give him his flip-flops.
"He was kneeling down and I thought he had fallen over, so I told him to get up and when he didn't, I bent down to try to pick him up.
"He told me to stand up and that's when he showed me the ring and asked me to marry him.
"I was so shocked, I wasn't expecting it at all."
The couple are now saving for their dream wedding.
Millie said: "It is all very romantic, I would marry Mike tomorrow if I could, but weddings cost a lot of money, so we need to save first."
Mike now hopes to complete the swimming challenge again, this time with his son, when he is older.
He said: "I did it with my dad this time, which was very special, and hopefully in a few years we will be joined by Harry."
Mike has so far raised £240 for ward L42, with donations still coming in.
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