UPDATED: During an afternoon commute Friday a train passenger reported seeing a body near the tracks on South Avenue.


Responding Whitman police officers located a white male near the train tracks on South Avenue at approximately 1:50 p.m. 
The report came from a transit employee, who rides the train to work. At the time of the discovery the train was heading into Boston.


Police later identified the male as William D. Whalen, of Whitman.  There was no sign of Whalen being hit by the train or anything suspicious at this time, according to Detective Steven Drass.


On Friday, police said that the male appeared to be 35 to 45 years of age and was wearing blue jeans, white sneakers, a Bruins T-shirt and a blue jacket with “STAFF” written on the back.  Other reports speculated that the male was shirtless.


Deputy Chief Scott Benton said that it is believed that Whalen suffered from hypothermia. His shirt was located near him and he has the rest of his clothing on.

“Usually in middle stages of hypothermia the individual starts to feel warm and then hot,” Drass said. “It is common that someone suffering from hypothermia starts to strip closes off.”


Police do not know how long his body was near the tracks.


Last week was extremely cold with temperatures in the 20s and teens overnight.


Whalen was last seen Thursday at 9:30 p.m. in Regal Food Mart where he may have bought alcohol.


Officials are not sure of why Whalen was near the tracks or where he was going. He was found just 100 yards from the South Avenue crossing and 25 feet from the tracks.


Police do not believe this incident is suspicious or that foul play was involved, Drass said.


A toxicology report is pending and results may take 12 to 16 weeks. 
The State Police Detective unit, Whitman Police detectives and detectives from the Transit Police are still investigating.