UPDATED: Man Missing in River Presumed Dead, Kayak Found Unmanned

Updated: Thursday, 5:38 p.m.:

Bensalem police Sgt. Andrew Aninsman has told reporters that the search has turned to a recovery mission. He added that he had no new details to offer.

The Coast Guard has joined the crews looking for 38-year-old Xiang “Billy” He’s body in the Delaware River.

Original Story:

The search for Xiang “Billy” He, 38, of Locust Avenue in Bensalem took a tragic turn Thursday morning.

Police say the red kayak He used to get to his boat, which was moored off the Bensalem shoreline, was found unmanned off the Delanco, N.J. shore of the Delaware River. Pennsylvania and New Jersey authorities were able to retrieve the kayak and confirmed it was the one owned by He, a business owner, police said.

“Mr. He is still missing and is now believed to have perished in the Delaware River,” Bensalem police Sgt. Andrew Aninsman said.

He was last seen at around 1 p.m. Tuesday at the boat ramp on River Road in Bensalem’s Torresdale Manor section, police said. He is known to keep his boat in that area.

Police said that the 38-year-old’s vehicle was found unattended at the boat dock. He is known to travel using a red kayak from a the dock to his boat, which is moored in the river.

Crews have been searching the river since a call was received Wednesday morning. The search area is reported to start in Croydon and go into Philadelphia.

Marine units from the Croydon Fire Company, Union Fire Company, Bensalem Fire Rescue, Philadelphia Police Department and New Jersey State Police have been out in the river all afternoon. A New Jersey State Police helicopter and Philadephia’s Air-Tac police chopper have also been used to search the river.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Bensalem Police Department at 215-633-3719.