Aquariums Tunnel of Love
Elated Ky Ingram took the plunge and enlisted the help of an underwater snorkeller to help him propose to his girlfriend at Portsmouth’s Blue Reef Aquarium. Ky, from Chichester, West Sussex, asked one of the aquarists at the Southsea attraction to hold up a sign from inside the giant tropical display, asking girlfriend Louise Cobban to marry him on Wednesday (April 13th). Dad-of-two Ky, 33, decided to pop the question in the aquarium because the couple went for their first date there just four months earlier Blue Reef aquarist Martyn Chandler, who volunteered to take Ky’s written proposal into the display, said he was delighted to be able to play a part in such a romantic gesture. “We have writing slates here at the aquarium on which we can write notes while underwater and I used that to help Ky propose to Louise. “We normally only get into the ocean display for maintenance or cleaning purposes. However, when Ky approached us and explained what he had planned we simply couldn’t refuse,” he added. The giant ocean walk through display contains 180,000 litres of seawater and is home to hundreds of exotic tropical fish species that live among a recreated coral reef. Ky explained: “I was so nervous in the run up to visiting the aquarium as I was worried I would get all flustered and not know what to say! “After I asked the question and she had said ‘yes’ all the stress went and I could relax and enjoy the moment. “It was fantastic the aquarium was able to help me out with this and it will always be a very special place for us,” he added. Staff had to use walkie talkies and secret codewords to ensure everything was in position when the couple walked in to the tunnel and Ky went down on one knee. Ecstatic Louise, 23, said: “I had no idea he was going to ask me to marry him and I can’t believe he managed to organise something like this without me suspecting anything,” said Louise. “I was shocked and didn’t know what to say at first but now I’m really excited and I can’t wait to tell everyone!” she added.
