Family of missing boater finds him safe near Port Glasgow, Ont.

Despite an extensive search byrescue crews, it was the family of a boatermissing overnight on Lake Erie on Thursday whofound him safe and well near Port Glasgow on Friday.

"I really thought I would never see him alive," said the man's father, whose first name is Dan, said in a video shared by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) on social media on Friday.

"All night we didn't sleep. We just couldn't. What do you do?"

OPP West Region spoke with Jason's family members, Nathan, Bob and Dan, the morning he was found safe. The three men did not give their last names.

Dan explained to OPP Const.Brett Phair how the familymanaged to track down themissing man.

"We did a little bit of math to figure out where he might be. And the math was almost 100 per cent," he said.

OPP say the man identified only as Jason, 42 was last seen entering the lake from the Rondeau Bay channel, near Erieau in Chatham-Kent, around 2:50 p.m. ET on Thursday.

According to OPP, a group of five people, each operating separate watercraft, were leaving Rondeau Bay when one of the vessels became partially disabled after striking a hazard in the water. One became separated from the group after continuing into Lake Erie, while the others returned to the marina with the disabled vessel.

The member of the group who got separated from the others wasreported missing.

OPP say members of the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre, Canadian Coast Guard, American Coast Guard, Chatham-Kent Fire and Rescue, Elgin OPP, Rondeau Provincial Park and Chatham-Kent Police Service assisted with the search.

The man's father repeatedly expressed gratitudeto policeand others who responded.

In an interview with CBC News, Phairrecounted the rescue efforts Thursday night.

"A pretty extensive search began for the missing boater and unfortunately the search was unsuccessful," he said. "But we got some good news this morning [that] the boater was located by members of the family, actually.

Phair said when the boater's family found him, he was in the water floating with his Sea-Doo, at a distance of approximately 20 feet from the shore. He said the boater is in good condition.

"He got checked out by the emergency medical services and everything was 'thumbs up,' so to speak. He was a little bit pruny from being in the water for so long overnight, but other than that, he's just tired," he said.

Jason is now home with his family.

For people looking to take their boats out on the water this summer, Phair has some safety tips.

"Be aware of all your safety equipment that's required for the vessel. There's a reason for that. Along with being a competent operator, making sure that your vessel is ready for the journey that you're going to do."

He says boaters should make sure they have enough fuel for a round trip to and from their starting destination and to never drive a boat while impaired.