An Ohio man said he was overjoyed to be reunited with the class ring he lost in a creek after his high school graduation 45 years ago.

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John Kaldmo of Amelia said he lost his ring when he fell into Four Mile Creek a month after he graduated from Anderson High School in 1966, WLWT-TV, Cincinnati, reported Thursday.

"The turbulent water washed me down about 50 feet, and when I got out, I noticed my class ring was gone," he said.

Kaldmo said he searched for the ring but eventually gave up hope of ever finding it.

However, Avery Dorsch, 10, said she found the ring in the now-dry creek bed while walking recently with some friends.

Dorsch and her mother said they put a notice about the ring in an e-mail about an upcoming reunion for Kaldmo's class. Kaldmo saw the notice and soon had the ring back in his hands.

"She was as excited as I was after 45 years to get my ring back," Kaldmo said of Dorsch. "She was jumping up and down when we got there, and I think I was, too."

Kaldmo said he is looking forward to wearing the ring to his upcoming 45-year class reunion.