PORT ANGELES — The body of a man recovered from a beach near Norwegian Memorial on the Pacific coast southwest of Lake Ozette this week has been transported to Port Angeles to await an autopsy.
“Identification has not been made and is pending the coroner’s exam and report,” said Barb Maynes, Olympic National Park spokeswoman, via email Saturday.
“The body of the deceased was transported [Friday]. The body was received by a funeral home and transported to Port Angeles for a coroner’s examination.”
Visitors to the park found the man’s body late Tuesday, Maynes has said.
Rangers arrived in the area Wednesday morning.
“The body of the deceased was reached and recovered — and safely secured — on Wednesday,” Maynes said.
“Because of inclement weather, removal from the beach was not possible until Friday afternoon.”
Eleven park rangers and two park biologists were involved in the recovery and transport to La Push, Maynes said.
Clifford Dopps, 74, went missing and was presumed drowned after a boat capsized in August near Hand Rock about 10 miles north of La Push. That is near where the unidentified body was found near Norwegian Memorial on Tuesday.
Dopps was in a 22-foot aluminum boat when it capsized.
Dopps’ boat was found on a remote and rocky section of shoreline in Olympic National Park.
A life jacket and other items were found nearby, but Dopps’ body was not found during an intensive two-day search.
The other person on the boat was rescued from the water and a dog named Rio swam ashore.
________
Features Editor Chris McDaniel can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56650, or at cmcdaniel@ peninsuladailynews.com.
