A quiet Thursday along the Bay Ridge waterfront turned grim when a body was pulled from the water by Shore Road Park, triggering a large emergency response on the shoreline. The recovery unfolded near the park’s Belt Parkway access and a pedestrian overpass in the 90s, where police quickly taped off the immediate area and kept people back while they worked. By evening, investigators were still on scene, and officials had not released the person’s identity or said how the individual may have died.
The discovery came just before 5 p.m., and fire officials said EMS pronounced the person dead at the scene. Citizen app video circulating online showed an ambulance on the Belt Parkway and a police boat in the water as crews moved in, reporting that lined up with coverage from News 12 Brooklyn. Authorities have not said whether they suspect foul play.
Where It Happened
Shore Road Park and Parkway stretches along the Narrows in southwestern Brooklyn, running parallel to the Belt Parkway with a promenade, ball fields and overlooks that look out toward the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge. The waterfront side includes several terraces, paths and a footbridge in the 90s that are regular haunts for runners, dog walkers and anglers. NYC Parks lists the property as “Shore Park and Parkway” and points to its long promenade and harbor views as key attractions.
Response And Investigation
NYPD and FDNY units stayed at the scene for hours while detectives canvassed the shoreline, documented the area and coordinated with police boats involved in the recovery. Officers did not immediately release more identifying information about the person in the water or offer any details about what may have led up to the death. The scale of the response and the footage of emergency vehicles along the parkway were also described by News 12 Brooklyn.
Other Recoveries Along The Narrows
Body recoveries along this stretch of the Narrows are uncommon but not unheard of. In September 2024 the Brooklyn Reporter reported that the NYPD Harbor Unit pulled a man’s body from the water near Shore Road Park, and the Brooklyn Eagle covered a separate 2018 case in which a body was recovered near Bay Eighth Street. In both of those earlier incidents, officials said the medical examiner would be responsible for determining the cause of death.
What Comes Next
The Office of Chief Medical Examiner will now examine the remains to confirm the person’s identity and determine the cause and manner of death, a standard step whenever a death is unattended or considered potentially suspicious. NYPD detectives are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the discovery, and officials say additional information will be released once it is available. Findings from police and the medical examiner can take several days, depending on testing, identification work and follow-up procedures, according to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner.
