Body found in Budd Inlet near Priest Point Park

The body of a man, thought to be in his late 40s or early 50s, was pulled from Budd Inlet off Priest Point Park beach Saturday morning, according to Gary Warnock, Thurston County coroner.

An autopsy is set for Monday (May16), he said. He also said his office has tentatively identified the man, but are still waiting to hear from out-of-state family members.

The body was found about 7:15 a.m. Saturday, 300 feet from the shore, according to a Thurston County 911 dispatcher. The Olympia Police Department and the Port of Olympia Harbor Patrol were among the agencies that responded, the dispatcher said.

Warnock also said emergency responders found the man’s overturned kayak with his belongings attached to it.

In an email to The Olympian on Sunday, Mary Beth Brown said that rowers with Olympia Area Rowing found and stayed with the body for quite a while. A coach discovered the body and a rower called 911, she said.

Brown is also a coach, she said.

“Very upsetting morning for the club,” Brown said.

This story was originally published May 15, 2016 at 12:16 PM with the headline "Body found in Budd Inlet near Priest Point Park."