Body found on sailboat that washed ashore in Beverly

A sailboat with a dead person aboard has washed ashore near a public park in northeastern Massachusetts.

The district attorney’s office said it is investigating the death on the boat, which ran aground near Lynch Park in Beverly on Friday afternoon.

The Salem News reported that the sailboat “Etoile”, which means star in French, with its sails raised, ran slowly onto rocks just offshore near Woodbury Point.

The boat remained grounded as low tide approached.

Officers have not yet been able to see any boat numbers to identify the man. Medical examiners have removed the body and will perform an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

The district attorney’s office said it appeared the man, who they described as “elderly” had died of natural causes.