A bride-to-be's restaurant proposal turned from idyllic to disastrous when she ended up in A&E just hours later. She was informed that delaying professional medical assistance could have led to the risk of amputation.

On August 10, 23-year-old Iona Hadaway accepted a marriage proposal from her boyfriend of eight months, Jacob Bugliarello, 20, at an Italian restaurant in Crewe.

The corporate banker, originally from Winsford, received an engagement ring that was too small, but she decided to 'force' it on due to her excitement.

“I wanted the ring on,” she explained. However, during visits to both her and Jacob’s parents, Iona noticed her finger was swelling because the ring was too tight.

"We went to his [Jacob's] house, and his mum wanted a closer look at the ring, so I tried to take it off and it wouldn't budge,” she recounted.

Iona and Jacob spent their first night as an engaged couple in A&E (KENNEDY NEWS)

"I was frustrated but said, 'Can you just get it off because I've had enough now'."

Before seeking medical help, Iona tried using Fairy washing-up liquid to lubricate her finger and then wrapped a rope around it to pull.

Realizing her engagement ring wouldn't budge, she quickly headed to Crewe Leighton Hospital’s A&E unit with her now fiancé.

Spending their first evening as a married couple wasn't what they envisioned - nor was being told her finger might have 'died' if she hadn't gone to the emergency room.

Iona explained she ‘could have lost [her] finger’, as experts found there was ‘no circulation’.

Medical experts said if Iona had waited any longer, she could have her finger amputated (KENNEDY NEWS)

"A hospital staff member said it was fortunate I went when I did because if I'd waited overnight, my finger likely would have died."

"There was no circulation in my finger whatsoever."

After trying all options, doctors had no choice but to cut off the Brit’s engagement ring.

Speaking about her missing ring - which Jacob purchased in a size R because she wore another ring in the same size - the soon-to-be-bride admitted: "I'm engaged but I don't feel engaged because I don't have my ring on."

"Everyone wants to see it and I'm like, 'I've only got a picture'."

The couple still planned to get married and want to buy a house together (KENNEDY NEWS)

She hopes a jeweller can repair the ring.

Despite this initial setback, the couple, who met through a mutual friend and began dating in January this year, are still going ahead with their wedding plans.

The pair plan to tie the knot in 2027 and are currently focused on purchasing a house.

"I thought he would propose in September when we go to Turkey,” Iona admitted.

“But he decided to propose earlier due to a family member being unwell. We're unsure if they'll be around for it, so he did it sooner.”

She added that she was ‘glad’ the getaway plan didn’t materialize, noting the trip would also have been disrupted by a hospital visit.

How to measure your ring size

To avoid a predicament like Iona's, it's wise to measure your ring size accurately before making a purchase.

H. Samuel states that you need to take some string and wrap it around the finger where you plan to wear your ring.

H Samuel has explained how you can easily measure your ring size to avoid a similar fate (H Samuel)

Using a marker pen, mark where the two ends meet, then use a ruler to measure the string in millimetres.

Divide the number you get by 3.14 to find the diameter of the ring.

Then use the jeweller's ring size chart (as supplied above) to determine your ring size.

The Goldsmith's guide says the best time of day to measure your ring size in mm is in the evening, as this is when your fingers are largest.