Fisherman drowns after family member tries rescuing him from icy lake, Idaho cops say

A Washington man ice fishing on an Idaho lake fell through the surface and drowned, deputies said.

Matthew Best, a 40-year-old from Spokane, planned to fish from the shore of Priest Lake in North Idaho on Feb. 19, the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office said. He was with a family member, and the two got separated.

“Best moved out onto the off-shore ice,” deputies said Feb. 28 on Facebook. “The ice was not thick enough, and Best fell through the ice.”

He alerted his family member and tried to get out of the icy water, deputies said. His family member rushed to help but “was not able to get him,” according to the sheriff’s office.

“Best ultimately succumbed to the cold water and drowned,” officials said. “Upon arrival, responders were not able to locate or recover Best from the water.”

The search was initially suspended until the morning because it was dark. On Feb. 20, a dive team searched the area and recovered Best’s body.

“As the temperatures fluctuate in our area, please use CAUTION on frozen waterways,” deputies said. “Ice formed over flowing water and currents is often DANGEROUS. This is especially true near streams, bridges and culverts.”

Priest Lake is about 95 miles northeast of Spokane.

This story was originally published March 1, 2022 at 9:45 AM with the headline "Fisherman drowns after family member tries rescuing him from icy lake, Idaho cops say."