UPDATE: Man found dead on Fauntleroy beach

| Fauntleroy | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

(WSB photo)

3:01 PM: Thanks for the tips. Police are investigating the discovery of a dead person on the beach in Fauntleroy, in a residential area south of the ferry dock. Our photo was taken looking south from the dock; the person’s body was on the beach just to the right of the driftwood at the photo’s right edge. This is the same area where a search was under way early Wednesday morning after a report of someone splashing and calling for help. Despite searches by sea and, later in the day, by air, no one was found at that time. We’re following up with police and will add anything more we find out.

3:49 PM: SPD spokesperson Officer Brian Pritchard says the call originally came in as an unclothed man dead on the beach, and that’s what police confirmed upon arrival. He says there’s no sign of foul play, though it’ll be up to the Medical Examiner to determine the cause of death.

(Photo sent by Leif)

They do believe this is the same person who was the subject of the Wednesday morning search, because of the clothing found on a small swimming dock (as mentioned in our previous story).

Alki resident July 26, 2024 (3:05 pm)

This is horrible. I feel like the search was called off way too fast. I’m so sorry to his friends and family.

K July 27, 2024 (7:33 am)

What do you mean? They searched for 40 minutes and then converted to recovery efforts, continuing the search for even longer. Perhaps they would have found him if they’d brought in more resources and searched all day and night, but he wouldn’t have been alive any more when they did.

Latchkey July 26, 2024 (8:39 pm)

Music festival in Lincoln park: 100 comments ranting about the end of the worldman dead near the same park: 0 comments

K July 26, 2024 (9:38 pm)

Very sad he couldn’t be saved. I wonder what circumstances led him to go swimming in the sound at 3am…how someone heard him at all….and if anyone reported a loved one missing. Thank you for all the info so far, WSB.

tooEasy July 27, 2024 (4:07 am)

Not sure if true, but I heard he was trying to steal a kayak and turns out the kayak was leaky.
Susan July 27, 2024 (11:56 am)

@K, Circumstances for going swimming in the sound in the night: He stole a kayak and an oar (when a kayak paddle was right there), which would suggest that he didn’t know much about kayaks. Evidently he also didn’t know how to swim. The kayak was found full of water. Draw your own conclusions, because we’ll never know what he had in mind. A sad way to end one’s life.

Paul July 26, 2024 (11:07 pm)

Alki, I don’t think you give credit to just how dark it is under water at night in the sound. With no known starting point and currents the chance of finding someone is very small. Coupled with how fast hypothermia sets in the window of survivability closes quickly.

Kersti Muul July 27, 2024 (7:26 am)

It’s dark and murky even most days. Done a lot of snorkeling in that area.This is so sad

Be nice July 27, 2024 (11:40 am)

Someone commented on another post about what this person may have done. That doesn’t mean it’s ok to throw dirt on them for deserving this. We can still be nice and say it’s a tragic thing that clearly happened because of something we don’t understand.

B July 27, 2024 (12:58 pm)

My condolences to the drowning victim & his family & friends. I grew up right near Fauntleroy. Love that beach. There is a deep shelf drop off there at the shore as I remember. Like shore is a very steep hill. Plus the tides can make the water move quite swiftly. Might have just been a combination of unexpected conditions & unfortunately bad luck.

J.B. July 28, 2024 (7:33 pm)

I think Kayaks can be very dangerous for those who aren’t familiar. One needs the special double-ended paddle, and training on how to balance and perform the Eskimo Roll maneuver. If they flip without the right paddle and skill, they will likely drown. Even experienced kayakers die this way, from time to time. Sad the man didn’t realize the danger he put himself in.

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