Noah Brown Identifies Brother Matt's Body in River

On Saturday, May 30, reality TV star Noah Brown shared devastating news with his followers: his oldest brother, Matthew Brown, had been found dead in the Okanogan River in Washington state. The 33-year-old confirmed that he was present during the recovery and personally identified his 43-year-old brother to authorities.

Noah’s announcement came hours after search and rescue efforts had resumed following a weather-related suspension earlier in the week. According to Noah’s Instagram video, the recovery occurred at 3:27 p.m., with the body pulled from the river after authorities received a call on Wednesday, May 27, about a man seen lying face down in the shallow waters. Emergency responders initially searched the area but were unable to locate anything that day.

In his measured account, Noah explained that Matthew’s ID and social security card were found with his body, and he provided a visual identification to authorities once the coroner completed initial procedures. Noah said he wanted to ensure the news was confirmed before speaking publicly, and that he made numerous phone calls to inform loved ones personally before posting his video. The family is awaiting the coroner’s report to determine an official cause of death.

Noah’s younger brother, Bear Brown, announced the discovery via TikTok, noting that the death was believed to be self-inflicted, though he admitted he’d worried more about Matthew struggling with substance abuse than about self-harm. Matthew had been open about his battles with addiction over the years, entering rehab in 2016 and returning for a second round of treatment two years later. Bear acknowledged that Matthew“struggled for a long time”but said he“never would have suspected that [Matt] would have hurt himself.”

In closing his video, Noah urged his followers to reach out to loved ones.“Say your prayers and tell people that you love that you love them while you can,”he said, reminding viewers of the fragility of life and the importance of connection. For anyone struggling, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

The loss marks a painful moment for the Alaskan Bush People family, whose wilderness survival reality show documented their unconventional lifestyle. Matthew’s passing underscores the ongoing public health challenge of substance abuse and mental health, issues that affect families across all walks of life.