New details have emerged following the tragic death of Alaskan Bush People star Matt Brown
Tragic new details have emerged following the death of Alaskan Bush People star Matt Brown at just 43.
Matt’s devastated brother Bear confirmed the heartbreaking news, saying that a body had been recovered in Washington, following days of searching.
An initial update from the Okanogan County Sheriff Office said, officers had responded to reports of a 'a male sitting in the shallow water', which triggered a search for the individual.
In an updated statement issued earlier today, the Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Matt's body had been found by a ‘group of private citizens’.
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“On Saturday, May 30, 2026, a group of private citizens conducting a search along the Okanogan River located a deceased individual in the river,” the updated press release read.
“The individual was recovered and brought to shore, where he was positively identified as Matthew Brown.
“Matthew Brown has been transferred into the custody and care of the Okanogan County Coroner. The cause and manner of death will be determined by the Coroner's Office.
“The Okanogan County Sheriff's Office extends its condolences to Mr. Brown's family and loved ones during this difficult time.
“No further information is being released at this time pending the ongoing investigation.”
In an emotional update on social media, Bear said their younger brother Noah had been one of the group that found Matt’s body.
"They found a body in the river a few hours ago, and it was positively identified as being Matt," he said.
"Noah was with them and helped them pull the body out of the water, and Noah identified him,” he said.
"I would have never suspected he would have hurt himself purposely, he struggled for a long time as I've mentioned and I was so worried he was gonna end up like OD'd or something like that.
"I didn't think that he would hurt himself. It does look as though the injury is self-inflicted. Obviously the coroner's got to look at him and stuff.
"But I thought you all guys should know that it is him."
The Brown family released a statement following the tragedy
In the wake of the tragedy, the Brown family shared a statement with US Weekly paying tribute to Matt.
“It is with profound sadness and broken hearts that we share the loss of our beloved son, brother, uncle, and friend, Matthew Brown,” the family said.
“To millions of viewers, Matt was known as one of the original stars of Alaskan Bush People. To us, he was so much more.
“Matt was intelligent, curious, creative, and endlessly fascinated by the world around him. He was a gifted outdoorsman who felt most at home on the water, in the wilderness, or sharing what he had learned with others. He was an accomplished fisherman, an experienced boatman, and served as the radar operator on our family’s vessels. He loved adventure and never stopped exploring new ideas.”
The family went on to praise Matt’s ‘extraordinary mind’.
“Those who truly knew Matt knew his heart. He was compassionate, generous with his time, and deeply wanted to help others.”
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, please don’t suffer alone. Call Samaritans for free on their anonymous 24-hour phone line on 116 123 or contact Harmless by visiting their website https://harmless.org.uk.
Claire Reid