The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office is investigating a death inside a Hilton Head Island gated community.

The Hilton Head Island Fire & Rescue Division received a call about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday for a welfare check at a house in Hilton Head Plantation, Fire Marshal Joheida Fister said. When crews arrived, they found a body, and the Sheriff's Office took over the investigation, according to Fister.

County Coroner Ed Allen said the Sheriff's Office called in the S.C. Law Enforcement Division. He did not know the cause of death and declined to release the deceased's name, pending notification of next of kin. Allen said the man had been dead for some of time. An autopsy is scheduled for Thursday.

Deputies had not entered the residence on Reflection Cove Court by about 6 p.m., Allen said. Yellow caution tape blocked off the street to nonresidents.

In a news release, the Sheriff's Office said there was no danger to public safety from the incident.