Body found in creek near rail trail in Salisbury

A body believed to be that of a man was found in water off a trail in Salisbury by a passerby Thursday afternoon, officials said.

The passerby reported that they saw the body at about 2:36 p.m. in the water near the tidal gate in the Old Eastern Marsh Creek, Salisbury police said in a statement.

Police responded to the Old Eastern Marsh Trail, which is near the creek, near its Mudnock Road access point, Salisbury police said.

The trail, also known as the Salisbury Rail Trail, is approximately 1.4 miles long and extends from the Merrimack River to Mudnock Road, according to the Salisbury Beach Partnership.

The victim appears to be a white male, but the person has not been immediately identified due to the condition of the body, said Carrie Kimball Monahan, spokeswoman for the Essex district attorney’s office.

Foul play is not suspected, Kimball Monahan said, but the incident remains under investigation by Massachusetts State Police and Salisbury police.

There is no danger to the public, Salisbury police said.