The Unused Photo

A little over a week ago a fisherman absentmindedly launched his boat from the ram at Sunbury Road near the bridge. He proceeded to his favorite fishing spot, leaving his truck running with the boat trailer still attached and sitting on the ramp.

When police received the 911 call about a truck running with an attached trailer and no boat seen, they began a search for the fisherman. Not sure of the circumstances, the search began with the idea that there had been some medical emergency causing the boat to leave the dock with the fisherman on board, or he might be dragged about by a line attached to the boat.

Police and fire rescue boats from Westerville, Genoa Township, Sharon Township, and Orange Township were launched to find the missing man. The Hoover Ranger’s boat also participated in the search.

As the search continued, I stood away from the ramp, watching first responders for an indication of the search's progress or the fisherman's discovery. The photo above is what I thought would be a way to tell a part of the story, with the empty boat trailer framed by first responders standing in the shadows.

If there had been a recovery instead of a rescue, this would have been an evocative way of describing the story. An empty boat trailer with first responders pondering the circumstances.

Fortunately, the fisherman was found in his favorite spot about a mile away and was embarrassed.

One of my rules is to never hold anyone up to ridicule unless they are being ridiculous. While some people might say the fisherman’s actions were ridiculous, I’m convinced he was embarrassed enough by having five rescue boats, a police drone, and three police departments looking for him.

I was pleased he arrived in his less than ten horsepower boat behind a Westerville Fire rescue boat so I could have him at the edge of the frame. When he sheepishly stepped onto the dock and approached with his hands raised to add humor to the moment, I smiled and didn’t make him look ridiculous.

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