SES members come to the rescue of Carrum great grandmother Mary Palzer

An 82-year-old Carrum woman was celebrating her wedding anniversary when a ring mishap required an emergency response.

An unusual call came through to Chelsea SES this weekend — help was needed to remove a woman’s wedding ring.

Carrum great grandmother Mary Palzer, 82, had undergone surgery on her hand 10 days earlier and, in the hot weather, her ring had begun cutting into her swollen finger.

SES members Cam, Mick and Ria came to her rescue, carefully cutting off the ring and saving her digit.

They were left stunned by an unexpected twist — it was Mary and her 94-year-old husband Hans’ 61st wedding anniversary.

Mary and Hans Palzer (middle) with Chelsea SES members Ria Breider, Mick Sander and Cameron Milner. Picture: Josie Hayden

SES members cut off Mary Palzer’s wedding ring.

The ring after it was cut off. Picture: Josie Hayden

The emergency call-out came on Mary and Hans Palzer’s 61st wedding anniversary. Picture: Josie Hayden

“It was such a coincidence. It’s bizarre it happened on that day,” Mary said.

“I thought the fire brigade was going to come with the sirens going.

“They were very good. It didn’t take too long.”

The couple, with three children, eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, had a registry wedding before celebrating with loved ones at a Collins St hotel on January 11, 1964.

Since then, there have been many memorable wedding anniversaries – and this year’s was certainly one they’ll never forget.

SES member Cam Milner said “it was great to be with Mary and her husband on their special day and help them in their time of need”.

“Although we removed her ring, we were able to give it back to her and hopefully she is able to have it repaired and wear it many more years to come.

“It was an uncommon but important job and something we train for.”

The remarkable coincidence was shared on Chelsea SES’s social media page which was flooded with congratulatory messages for Mary and Hans from strangers far and wide.

“What a lovely story. I hope they can find a kind hearted jeweller who could fix it for her to wear once again. Happy anniversary,” one person wrote.

Originally published as SES members come to the rescue of Carrum great grandmother Mary Palzer