Body found on beach near lower shoreline park in Santa Bárbara

By Newsroom

The Santa Barbara Police (SBPD) informed that a body was found on the shore of a popular beach near La Mesa area, on Thursday.

The SBPD Combined Communication Center received a report of a possible body washed ashore below the cliffs near lower Shoreline Park.

A citizen had contacted a city groundskeeper, who reported the incident to a Park Ranger.

Santa Barbara Police, Harbor Patrol, and Fire Department responded to the scene. From the officers’ vantage point above, it appeared that the individual below was face down in the water.

High tide made it difficult for rescuers to initially assess the medical status of the person in the water.

«Santa Barbara Fire Department rescue swimmers responded and were able to examine the person. It appears the subject had been deceased for several hours and was pronounced dead on the beach,» the SBPD said in a press release.

SBPD, Fire Department, Harbor Patrol, and Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Deputy Coroners were eventually able to access the decedent’s body once the tide slightly receded.

The body was relinquished to the Coroner’s Officer for examination. There are no obvious signs of foul play and cause of death is unknown at this time.

The decedent is a male in their late 60’s.

This case is under investigation and the decedent’s name is being withheld pending family notification.