Man found dead into harbor in Atlantic Highlands

️ 🚨A Highlands man was found dead

️ 🚨Police used a drone to find the body

️ 🚨Authorities say the case is under investigation

ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS — A man was found dead in the water after spending time on a docked Seastreak ferry. Video shows he walked off the boat before somehow ending up in the water.

The crew on board a docked ferry found the bags and personal belongings at the front bow around 5:35 a.m. Wednesday. A review of video footage showed the man on the ship and then getting off. It was not clear how he later got into the water.

Atlantic Highlands police, along with the State Police Marine Unit and the U.S. Coast Guard were contacted and began a search.

Circumstances of ferry death remain under investigation

A drone deployed by Atlantic Highlands police found something in the water inside the break wall near the mooring field of the municipal harbor. They removed the body of a 57-year-old Highlands man who matched the individual in the video footage. He was pronounced dead after being brought to shore.

Police said the circumstances of the fall are under investigation but it is not considered suspicious.

EDITOR'S NOTE: An earlier version of this report should not have said that the man fell off the bow of the boat, where his belongings were later found. 

SEE ALSO: The Seastreak recently implemented a 3% fare increase, its first hike since 2022 due to what it said were rising equipment, maintenance and labor costs.

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