Yellowstone rangers search for missing swimmer

Rangers in Yellowstone National Park are searching for a man who is missing after swimming in swift waters in the northern section of the park.

Feiyang “Isaac” Xiang, a 21-year old man from China, is a seasonal concessionaire employee in the park and was backpacking with four friends on Thursday, July 23 when he disappeared while swimming in the Yellowstone River near its confluence with Hellroaring Creek.

Xiang was in the water with two of his companions around 11:45 a.m. when he was pulled away from the shore by the current of the swiftly flowing river.  Xiang was struggling to stay afloat as efforts to pull him back to shore were unsuccessful.  He was swept downriver into a long stretch of rapids before he disappeared from view. A member of the party found spotty cell phone reception and placed a broken 911 call to park dispatch at 12:39 pm.

Rangers responded on horseback and on foot. They reached the river and met with the reporting party at 2:44 pm. Initial search efforts Thursday afternoon did not turn up any sign of Xiang, who is described as 5 feet 6 inches tall, 140 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.

Search efforts were increased on Friday, with approximately 40 people including a helicopter, two dog teams, and 20 Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park employees actively searching the Yellowstone River corridor.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Feiyang “Isaac” Xiang is asked to call Yellowstone National Park at 307-344-2643.

 

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