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Investigators trying to ID body found in Amelia Island

AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. — Officials in Nassau County are working to determine the identity and cause of death for a man whose body washed up along the coast early Tuesday evening.

"I just think that this is very scary to hear," said local resident Trisha Wright.  "This is not the kind of thing that usually happens in this area."

Two beachgoers found the body about 200 yards north of the Scott Road beach access, and pulled it out of the water and called 911.

RELATED: Deputies investigating possible drowning in Amelia Island

They told deputies the man appeared to be in his 40s and was only partially clothed. Deputies say he wore a shirt, underwear and socks, attire that led the Nassau County Sheriff's Office to rule out drowning as a possible cause of death.

"Something that's more sinister than [a drowning] would be really odd for our island," said resident Mark Dean.

Sheriff Bill Leeper said there haven't been any missing person reports in Nassau County, and now deputies are reaching out to other areas.

"[They're talking to] basically the surrounding counties to see if they've had anybody gone missing fitting the description," Leeper said.

Meantime, locals tell Action News they feel for this man and whatever family he leaves behind.

"It just probably knocks the world out from under [his family] and I just can't even imagine," Dean said.

The Medical Examiner's Office is working to determine the official cause of death. According to the Coast Guard, there were no distress calls or calls of abandoned vessels Tuesday evening.