'Alaskan Bush People' star Matt Brown dies aged 43 after search effort near Washington river

Earlier, reports emerged that a man had been seen in or near the river before being swept away by the current

Matt Brown, best known for appearing on the reality television series Alaskan Bush People, has died at the age of 43, according to statements made by his family.

The news was confirmed by his brother, Bear Brown, following a search effort linked to reports of a man seen near the Okanogan River in Washington state.

Bear Brown announced on TikTok that Matt's body had been recovered from the river and positively identified by their brother Noah Brown.

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Matt update… #alaskanbushpeople #thelifeofbear #fyp #bearthekingofextreme @Noah Brown

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“They found a body in the river a few hours ago and it was positively identified as being Matt,” Bear said. “[Brother] Noah was with them and helped them pull the body out of the water. Noah identified [Matt].”

Bear also addressed speculation surrounding the circumstances of his brother's death, noting that an autopsy had not yet been completed. He urged the public to show compassion towards the Brown family during a difficult period.

“I would ask people to please, please be respectful to my family and to my mom,” he said. “Please watch the comments that you leave, guys.”

The confirmation came shortly after authorities suspended search operations in the area due to deteriorating river conditions following rainfall. Officials said rising water levels and stronger currents had complicated rescue efforts.

Earlier in the week, concerns grew after reports emerged that a man had been seen in or near the river before being swept away by the current. Emergency responders searched the area but were initially unable to locate him.

Brown appeared on Alaskan Bush People from 2014 until 2019. The Discovery Channel series followed the Brown family as they lived off the grid in Alaska. Following his departure from the programme, Brown focused on creating content for his YouTube channel and remained active online.

He had previously spoken publicly about his struggles with substance abuse and underwent rehabilitation treatment on more than one occasion.

Matt Brown is survived by his mother Ami Brown and his siblings, including Bear, Gabe, Noah, Joshua “Bam Bam”, Bird and Rain Brown.