A retired Washington state detective who survived being shot in the line of duty in 2023 was found dead in a Montana lake on Tuesday after going missing in a boating incident days earlier, authorities said.

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.”

Easterly’s body was recovered from Flathead Lake on Tuesday afternoon, three days after he jumped into the water from a boat and disappeared, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office said.

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 said. “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.