The body of a Chinese man was found floating in the sea and believed to have drowned in the waters off Pulau Payar, about 40km south of Langkawi Sunday.

Langkawi District police Chief Supt Dr Che Ghazali Che Awang confirmed that the body found with the lifejacket still strapped to his body at about 12.30pm here by other tourists on the island was identified as Hong Leung, 74.

Che Ghazali said the victim had arrived in Pulau Payar with other members of his family at about 11.40am to swim.

He said Hong's body was brought by boat to the Kuah Jetty Sunday afternoon, and later sent to the Langkawi Hospital for post-mortem.