Unaccountably I omitted to mention one of the more confusing features of this incident which became a problem when I wrote up my report.
When I went down to talk to the stranded boater the owner of the old lock cottage was already there. His name is Nick.
I talked to the boater and gave him my lock phone number. He said his name was…Nick…
A little later another boater offered assistance. Weirdly his name was…Nick
