Matt Brown’s brother Noah has opened up about the devastating moment he was asked to identify the Alaskan Bush People star after rescuers located his body.
Brown, who was among the original cast members of the Discovery Channel series, died aged 43 after being found in the Okanogan River near Oroville. His brother Bear shared the news in a TikTok posted on Saturday night.
Noah later confirmed he was there when the search ended and has now described what happened as efforts to locate Matt intensified.
Speaking to US Weekly, Noah said there were ‘two separate search teams’ working to find his brother.
“One of the smaller, more local teams decided to go out yesterday, [Saturday] and about — I think it’s 3:20-something, 3:27, 3:28, something like that — they texted me and told me they had found him. So I rushed down to the spot,” he told the outlet.
When asked why he was the relative who identified Matt, Noah said it came down to location, explaining he was ‘in the area’. He added that he felt he was ‘the most prepared to take on the responsibility’, while noting he is still trying to process what he experienced.
Noah also told US Weekly that the team brought Matt’s body ‘to shore’ using ‘a small skiff,’ after which the coroner arrived.
“Right now, all I can say is that he was lost in the river. He was lost in the river and we found him,” he told the outlet, adding that an autopsy was underway.
Noah said his brother’s cause of death had ‘not yet been released.’
In the same TikTok shared Saturday, Noah and Bear said Matt had been dealing with serious struggles away from the cameras, including alcohol and drug addiction, along with other personal challenges.
A press release from the Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office reads: “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.”
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