Reporter rocked up to breaking news only to find boyfriend proposing to her

A reporter for ABC 33/40 was hurrying over to a supposed crime scene only to turn around and notice her boyfriend had popped down on one knee.

Investigative journalist Valerie Bell, arrived at a small lake in Birmingham, Alabama that was allegedly a domestic violence crime scene.

She greeted the local authorities before giving them her details and asking them if she could take some notes about the crime.

But before she could take any photos or ask any more questions, one local police officer said to her: “Before you take notes, I think you’ll like to see one thing behind you.”

Waiting patiently behind Bell was her partner with a huge grin on his face and a ring box in his hand.

“Here I was, thinking I was going to breaking news but little did I know,” said Bell, posting a video of the proposal to Twitter.

Bell’s tweet, which was posted last Saturday, now has over 141,000 views.

“It was all part of a massive collaborative plan to pull off one heck of a surprise," she wrote.

Bell confirmed in follow-up tweets that the local authorities involved in the proposal were all volunteers and off-duty.

The post was met with many warm congratulations for the couple, with many stunned at the creativity and effort her boyfriend went to.

“This was the very first tweet I saw this morning,” commented one user, “What a nice way to wake up.”

Call me a hopeless romantic, but this is beyond sweet,” said another. “He did a great job pulling off this surprise.”

A third said: “Oh these proposals lately, the bar has been raised!”

However, while most comments were positive, the proposal video attracted a few criticisms.

“Call me crazy, but isn't this a terrible waste of resources?” commented a user, though Bell was quick to reiterate that the police officers involved were off-duty.

“Reporter was lured to cover a fake domestic violence and suicide so she could get proposed??? Gross,” read another comment.

Either way, the happy couple are excited about their journey ahead.

Ending her Twitter post, Bell wrote: “Can’t wait to spend forever with you. I’m the most lucky girl.”