THE body of a man has been found on a storm-lashed beach with police launching an investigation.
Officers were called to the beach at Worth Mattravers, near Swanage, Dorset, at around 11am yesterday after the alarm was raised when the body was spotted.
Cops said the death was being treated as unexplained and detectives would investigate who the man was and how he ended up on the beach.
A pathologist was due to carry out a post-mortem examination today to ascertain the exact cause of the man’s death.
Police were still trying to identify the man and to contact his relatives to break the news of his tragic death.
Coastguards joined police at the scene close to Chapman’s Pool on the beach in Purbeck.
The body was carried away from the beach and taken to a mortuary by paramedics.
A spokesman for Dorset Police said last night: “Officers are investigating the identity of the man and the circumstances surrounding his death, which is currently being treated as unexplained.
“We received a report at 11.37am today (Sun) that a body had been found on the beach in the Chapman’s Pool area of Worth Matravers, Swanage.
“Officers responded alongside HM Coastguard and the ambulance service with a cordon put in place to allow emergency services to respond to the incident.
“The death is being treated as unexplained and the body has been recovered.
“Inquiries will now take place on behalf of the Dorset coroner to establish the identity of the man and the circumstances surrounding his death.”
It was not known whether the death happened as a result of Storm Darragh which lashed the area for more than 24 hours.
Officers were called to the beach at Worth Mattravers, near Swanage, Dorset[/caption]