New York City police have located a tourist couple whose unlucky marriage proposal went viral after their engagement ring fell down a drain at Times Square.

A video of the incident shared on Twitter by the New York City Police Department collected more than 20,000 retweets, made headlines and managed to reach the newly engaged pair who had returned to the United Kingdom.

"The [now] happy couple is back in their home country, but thanks to your retweets they heard we were looking for them!" the NYPD wrote on Twitter.

"We're making arrangements to get them their ring back. Congratulations!"

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The video captured by security cameras showed the distressed couple trying, unsuccessfully, to retrieve the ring.

NYPD officers managed to recover and clean the piece of jewellery, but could not find the couple so made the appeal on social media.

"Thank you, Twitter. Case closed! Love, John, Daniella, and the NYPD," the department tweeted, along with a photo of the smiling couple.

More than 350,000 people visit Times Square in midtown Manhattan every day.

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Reuters