Person dies after falling onto barge in Duwamish River

One person died Saturday afternoon after falling from a platform in Seattle’s South Park neighborhood onto a barge in the Duwamish River.

Just after 1:30 p.m., the Seattle Fire Department received reports that a person had fallen from an elevated platform in the 600 block of South Riverside Drive, spokesperson David Cuerpo said. When fire crews arrived, they confirmed the person was dead.

The Fire Department was using trucks with aerial ladders to lower a basket and bring the remains back to crews on land, Cuerpo said.

Once the body is recovered, the Seattle Police Department will take over the scene to investigate how the person died and whether foul play was involved.

Chaplains have also been called to the scene to talk with people who witnessed the fall and those who knew the person