Missing boater's kayak found; he's now presumed dead

A man who went missing after paddling off in the Delaware River in Bensalem is presumed dead, police said this morning.

A Delanco, N.J., resident who saw news of Xiang He's disappearance alerted police that he found an unmanned red kayak near the shore, and it was later identified as He's kayak, Bensalem police said today. Authorities now suspect he drowned in the river.

He, 38, who goes by the nickname Billy, was last seen Tuesday about 1 p.m. on a boat ramp on River Road in Bensalem Township, police said. The kayak Xiang used to get from the dock to his boat also had been missing since Tuesday, according to investigators. Authorities from Bucks County, Philadelphia and New Jersey spent hours searching the river yesterday, but came up with nothing.

Anyone with information about Xiang's whereabouts is asked to contact Bensalem police at 215-633-3719.