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Amid a global pandemic that has caused much pain and anxiety, Swinomish Tribal Community members are celebrating a local miracle.

Michael Smith, Jr., who had gone missing and at one point was presumed drowned, had left La Conner to deliver crabbing gear in Blaine Monday, Aug. 17. He was found alive Thursday by Canadian authorities.

“Michael Smith has been located safe in Delta, B.C.,” Swinomish Tribal Police said in a Aug. 20 statement. “Thank you to all who have assisted in the search. Such great news for Swinomish.”

Smith, 39, had drifted into Canadian waters after the 18-foot teal and white skiff he was operating apparently run out of fuel.

His boat drifted into Boundary Bay, east of Point Roberts, a practical exclave of the United States just south of the Vancouver, B.C. metro area on the Tsawwassen Peninsula.

“Michael drifted in the bay and was unable to hail assistance,” Swinomish Tribal Police Lt. Earl Cowan said. “This particular bay does not get much vessel traffic. Therefore, Michael was not noticed. Michael made it to land on the morning of Aug. 20. He climbed over a dike, located people and Delta Police was called.”

Smith had left La Conner mid-afternoon that Monday and was last seen off Lummi Island in an area known for occasional rough conditions. Smith was expected to arrive in Blaine by sunset.

Family members contacted the U.S. Coast Guard the next day to report Smith overdue and an exhaustive search was undertaken.

Swinomish Tribal Police and its marine unit, Lummi law enforcement, Coast Guard helicopters, rescue boats and tribal fishing vessels searched more than 140 square miles off Skagit and Whatcom counties to no avail. The effort was suspended after 11 hours.

Prayers were immediately sought at Swinomish and throughout the area. Hours later they were answered with news Smith had been located.

Donald Clark, the boat’s owner, drove to the border to bring him home.

It is rare for a missing boater to be found safe after a search operation is suspended.

Smith beat the odds.

Social media was flooded with messages thankful for the happy ending to a tense situation. One poster, Sarah Roberts, likened it to an early

Christmas present suggestion for holiday gift lists going forward.

“Looks like everybody needs GPS (Global Positioning System) trackers and proper communication tools for Christmas gifts this year,” she said. “How scary that had to be.