A former detective from Washington state, who survived a shooting while on duty in 2023, was discovered dead in a Montana lake on Tuesday after disappearing following a boating accident several days prior, according to authorities.

The King County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to Fox News Digital that David Easterly, 67, died following Saturday’s boating incident. 

“Our thoughts are with Detective Easterly’s family and all who served with him during his 25-year career with King County,” the agency said in a statement. “We thank the Lake County Sheriff’s Office (MT) for their compassion and service during this time.”

On Tuesday afternoon, Easterly’s body was retrieved from Flathead Lake, three days after he had jumped into the water from a boat and subsequently vanished, announced the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

Easterly spoke at a press conference when he was released from the hospital in May 2023.

“I’m not going to make it without crying,” Easterly previously expressed. “Most of the blood that flows through me right now doesn’t even belong to me. It belongs to the people who were generous enough, brave enough to give me that blood.”

Easterly decided to retire shortly after the shooting.

“No, that’s it, I’m done. That’s it. I’m a little too old for this game,” Easterly told the outlet.