Body of Frankford man who disappeared while swimming in Delaware River is found

By Robert Moran, Inquirer Staff Writer
Posted: August 20, 2011

The body of a Frankford man who disappeared while swimming in the Delaware River last weekend was recovered Wednesday, authorities said Friday.

Sidney Spence, 45, of the 4700 block of James Street, was with four other people in a boat last Saturday night when he followed two others for a swim, said Tiffany Hackett, 32, his girlfriend.

Hackett, who also was swimming, said that within minutes, Spence appeared to be struggling. Hackett said she tried to help but then began struggling herself. She said she called out to Robert DePaul, who also was swimming, to help. Spence suddenly disappeared, she said.

DePaul drove the boat back to the Frankford Arsenal with the remaining passengers and the police were called, Hackett said.

The group had planned to take the boat across the river to see a Journey concert at the Susquehanna Bank Center in Camden, Hackett said, but they never made it.

A few hours earlier, the state Fish and Boat Commission had cited someone in Spence's boat for fishing without a license while the craft was anchored off Penn's Landing. DePaul was later cited for boating while intoxicated.

New Jersey State Police said they discovered Spence's body Wednesday along the Delaware in Pennsauken.

Contact staff writer Robert Moran at 215-854-5983 or bmoran@phillynews.com.

Inquirer staff writer Darran Simon contributed to this article.

Index by Keyword
|
Index by Date
|
About Philly.com
|
Contact Us
|
Terms of Use & Privacy Statement
|
Copyright 2013