Reunited: Billy Ray Harris hugs his sister after being reunited with his siblings for the first time in 16 years

• Billy Ray Harris kept the ring safe after a woman mistakenly dropped it
• Sarah Darling and her husband setup a fundraising page for Harris   
• Website raised $180,000 enabling Harris to buy a house and to get a job   
• Publicity about Harris' good deed helped his sister to reconnect with him   
• Harris and his siblings reunited in emotional meeting live on TV

A homeless man who returned a diamond engagement ring to its owner has seen his family for the first time in 16 years after his kind gesture made headlines around the world.

Billy Ray Harris was being interviewed about how he returned the ring to Sarah Darling after she accidentally dropped it into his collection cup in Kansas City, Missouri.

But he was left virtually speechless when his long-lost siblings who live 640 miles away in Texas entered the set during the middle of the TV interview.


Emotional: Mr Harris met his three sisters Robin, Nellie and Elsie and his brother Edwin on the show

In an emotional reunion, Mr Harris hugged his three sisters and his brother who had travelled from their home in Texas to surprise their brother on the TODAY.com show.

He said: 'This is a really big surprise. I'm shocked. I never would have thought this - it's a total shock.

'I've got it all here right now.'

Mr Harris's life has been transformed since Ms Darling and her husband set-up an online fundraising page on giveforward.com to thank him for his kind gesture after he returned their ring worth several thousand dollars.

'I've got it all here right now': Mr Harris said his life feels complete now he is back in touch with his family

Back together again: The family plan to have another reunion this summer in Texas where they all grew up

The website has so far more than $180,000 for the homeless man who has now been able to buy a house and get a part-time job.

But even more importantly, be able to reconnect with his family who believed he was dead.

Speaking on the TODAY.com show, his sister Nellie E. Vaughn said: 'For years we were wondering if he was still alive. It's good news.'

Billy Ray’s younger sister, Robin Harris had been searching for her brother online over the years before she was astonished to turn on the TV news  and hear about his kindness.

Billy Ray Harris has been overwhelmed by people's donations but reconnecting with his long-lost family is even better, he says

Human kindness: Billy Ray Harris returned a diamond engagement ring to owner Sarah Darling after she mistakenly dropped it in his collection cup

The brother and sister then reconnected during a series of long and emotional telephone conversations during which they caught up on the past decade and a half.

‘It was nice. I was crying,’ she told TODAY.com. ‘I was happy to hear from my brother. I told him I just couldn't believe he stayed homeless for so long when he knew he could come back. I would always give my brother a place to stay.’

But the meeting on the TV programme on Sunday was the first time they had seen each other in person.

His brother Edwin Harris and sister Elsie 'EJ' Johnson also turned up at the show.

Darling had put her engagement ring in her purse for safekeeping, but then emptied the contents into Harris' collection cup  by mistake

More than 7,000 people have donated money to help Billy Ray after his act of kindness inspired them

Billy Ray says he is overjoyed to be back in touch with his siblings. ‘I hadn't talked to her in so many years. I was totally excited and surprised'.

When Sarah Darling accidentally dropped her engagement ring into Billy Ray's donation cup she set off a chain of events which have changed his life forever.

Darling's husband Bill Krejci, who set-up the donations page, helped Harris to get his identification documents straightened out so he could open a bank account to access the donations raised for him.

Paying it back: Darling and husband Bill Krejci who set up the fundraising page for Harris

Billy Ray Harris is no longer sleeping rough and now has bought his own home with money donated to him

The couple and Mr Harris have become close friends and have gone to watch hockey games and films together.

He said: 'It's amazing. I appreciate it and want to thank all the people who helped me.

Harris says he’s excited about what the future holds, and is most thankful that the amazing experience has helped him to get back in touch with his siblings.

‘That's the main thing,’ he said. ‘To me, that's the best thing to come out of this whole deal.’

By Suzannah Hills

Source: dailymail.co.uk