What was supposed to be one of the happiest moments of a couple's life ended in heartbreak.
A lot of planning goes into a proposal and, while Steven Weber's intentions were extremely romantic, he died shortly after popping the question to his girlfriend, Kenesha Antoine.
The pair were on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Tanzania, and were staying at the Manta Resort, off Pemba Island, which is reported to cost as much as $1,700-a-night for a cabin.
Advert
While Steven was diving, he presented a message to Kenesha and pressed it against the cabin glass window while she was filming him.
One side of the piece of paper read: "I can't hold my breath for long enough to tell you everything I love about you BUT everything I love about you I love more EVERY DAY!"
Steven then flipped the paper round where it asked Kenesha to marry him, shortly followed him presenting a ring.
Advert
Kenesha was heard laughing with excitement in the clip, but she was never able to tell her partner yes to his face as Steven failed to resurface from his dive.
In the wake of his unexpected death, Kenesha penned a heartbreaking post to Facebook where she shared the video of his proposal and other snaps from their holiday.
"There are no words adequate enough to honor the beautiful soul that is Steven Weber, Jr," she penned on September 20, 2019.
"You were a bright light to everyone you encountered. You never met a stranger, and you brought so much joy to so many people. You were kind, compassionate, you regularly made me cry with laughter, and you showered me with a love like none I’d ever experienced."
Advert
The tear-jerking post went on: "You never emerged from those depths, so you never got to hear my answer, 'Yes! Yes! A million times, yes, I will marry you!!' We never got to embrace and celebrate the beginning of the rest of our lives together, as the best day of our lives turned into the worst, in the cruelest twist of fate imaginable."
Kenesha further wrote that she was trying to 'take solace' in the fact they had just enjoyed a bucket list holiday in the days running up to Steven's death, describing them as 'so happy and absolutely giddy with excitement in our final moments together'.
"I will find you and marry you in the next lifetime, and the next, and the next, and the next... I love you so much, and I always will," she continued her message that's since been reacted to over 41,000 times.
Advert
At the time of the ordeal, Matthew Saus, CEO of the resort, said everyone was 'shaken to their core' after Steven's death.
He told the BBC that staff responded to a 'problem in the water' during Steven's dive, but when they arrived 'absolutely nothing could be done'.
Over four years on form his untimely passing, Steven and Kenesha's story is still breaking people's hearts to this day.
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact The Compassionate Friends on (877) 969-0010.
Topics: Travel, World News, Sex and Relationships
Niamh Shackleton