Homeless man who received more than $180k after returning diamond engagement is reunited with his family for the first time in 16 years

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.

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.

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 returned a diamond engagement ring to owner Sarah Darlin 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.