The body of a man was discovered washed up on a beach in Westport Thursday, police say.

The discovery was made near a grassy area on the coast off of 132 Beachside Avenue around 8:45 a.m., police Lt. Jillian Cabana says.

Beachside Avenue was temporarily closed to through traffic, but has since been reopened, Cabana says. 

Witnesses described seeing a body underneath a yellow-colored tarp as police investigated.

A parent reached out to News 12, and says several schools had a field trip planned to visit the beach Thursday.

However, parents were made aware of the incident, and the children were turned away before reaching the beach.

Police described the body as being a white older man.  

Police say they will release the man's identity once his family has been notified. 

A state medical examiner will determine the exact cause of death.