Body found hanging from Balboa Pier; worker saw a man pace, then disappear

Authorities are investigating a possible suicide after a body was found hanging from the Balboa Pier in Newport Beach early Friday, police said.

Officials received a 911 call at about 6:30 a.m. reporting that a man’s body was hanging from the pier about halfway down the pier’s length, Newport Beach police Sgt. Peter Carpentieri said.

The man apparently had jumped from the pier moments earlier, according to Martin Serna, a worker who was emptying trash cans in the area.

Serna said he and his co-workers were cleaning along the pier when they saw someone pacing. Suddenly the person disappeared, and Serna said he didn’t realize what had happened until a bystander told him the person had jumped.

Officers arrived and confirmed the man was dead.

Serna said officials tried unsuccessfully to pull the body up to the pier before lowering it into a boat.

Police and Orange County coroner’s officials are investigating.

“It’s believed to be a suicide at this point,” Carpentieri said.

Additional details were not immediately available.