FREMONT — An autopsy will determine the cause of death of a man found floating in the water Thursday morning at Don Edwards Preserve, about 12 hours after he was first seen in the water, authorities said Friday.
Authorities were trying to confirm the man’s name before releasing his identity to the public.
The man was first seen by someone about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday floating in the water near a pier at the preserve, which is officially known as the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge.
Police said in a news release that witnesses told officers that the man fell off the pier. Unsuccessful attempts were made to rescue him, but the man floated away before he could be removed from the water.
Police said several agencies responded to help look for the man, but after an extensive, hourslong search that included rescue boats and a helicopter, the man could not be found.
According to the release, about 7:30 a.m. Thursday the man was found deceased in the water and was removed by firefighters and transferred to coroner’s deputies.
Police were continuing to investigate the death.
