• News
  • Life
  • TV & Film
  • Beauty
  • Style
  • Home
  • News
    • Celebrity
    • Entertainment
    • Politics
    • Royal Family
  • Life
    • Animals
    • Food & Drink
    • Women's Health
    • Mental Health
    • Sex & Relationships
    • Travel
    • Real Life
  • TV & Film
    • True Crime
    • Documentaries
    • Netflix
    • BBC
    • ITV
    • Tyla Recommends
  • Beauty
    • Hair
    • Make-up
    • Skincare
  • Style
    • Home
    • Fashion
    • Shopping
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
Submit Your Content
Glee Star's Autopsy Says She Died Bravely Saving Her Son's Life

Home> Celebrity

Published 18:35 8 Jul 2022 GMT+1

Glee Star's Autopsy Says She Died Bravely Saving Her Son's Life

33-year-old Naya Rivera died from accidental drowning after going missing at Lake Piru in July 2020.

Lisa McLoughlin

Lisa McLoughlin

Featured Image Credit: Alamy

Topics: Celebrity, Naya Rivera

Lisa McLoughlin
Lisa McLoughlin

Advert

Advert

Advert

Glee actress Naya Rivera's autopsy has revealed she died bravely saving her son's life after a trip to a Californian lake went tragically wrong two years ago.

The 33-year-old star died from accidental drowning after going missing at Lake Piru in the Los Padres National Forest in Ventura County on 8 July 2020.

Naya was first reported missing after she rented a boat for her and her son Josey. But just hours later, the then four-year-old was found in the boat asleep by himself, along with her life jacket, ID and purse. Naya was nowhere to been.

He later told investigators he and his mum had been swimming together, but that Naya didn't make it back into the boat. He said he had watched her disappear beneath the surface of the lake.

At the time, Police believed Naya 'mustered enough strength to save her son but not herself'.

Advert

And now the actress’ autopsy, which was shared with PA in Los Angeles after her death, has confirmed what authorities have long said, that she bravely saved her son's life before losing her own.

The autopsy stated: "Shortly afterwards Rivera pushed the boy back onto the boat. When the child looked back, he saw his mother put her arm in the air and shout 'help'.

"Boat rental worker Bryan Tomaszewski went looking for the rented vessel when it was not returned on time and found Josey wrapped in a towel, wearing a life vest and asleep.

"A spare adult-sized life jacket was also on the boat, along with Rivera's possessions including her bag and mobile phone."

Advert

The report also confirmed that Naya, who was a strong swimmer, had no known medical history 'other than vertigo and a recent sinus infection'.

In May, Naya's ex-husband Ryan Dorsey posted a heartbreaking tribute to the late actress for Mothers Day, ahead of her two-year anniversary.

Ryan, who shares son Josey with her, told followers in an emotional post to Instagram that he has 'regrets', before urging them to hug their mums and grandmothers and 'forgive & forget, if you can'.

Advert

Sharing a collection of photos of Naya and Josey, and his own mum, Dorsey detailed how he spent Mother's Day this year – driving to the site of Naya's tragic passing.

He then went on to admit that when he arrived, he shed tears and talked to her 'about the dumb s**t that set us apart'.

The couple married in 2014 in a secret ceremony, not long after she split from her ex-fiancé Big Sean. A year later, the newlyweds welcomed their baby boy Josey Hollis Dorsey.

After four years of marriage, Naya filed for a divorce from Ryan in 2018. The pair went on to share custody of their son before her tragic passing in 2020.

Choose your content:

2 days ago
  • Chip Somodevilla/Getty ImagesChip Somodevilla/Getty Images
    2 days ago

    Kim Kardashian criticises Donald Trump's ICE raids in public speech

    The reality TV star addressed the 200,000 people who have been deported from the United States since Trump returned to the White House

    Entertainment
  • instagram/@chariah/@mayabenberryinstagram/@chariah/@mayabenberry
    2 days ago

    Travis Kelce's ex Maya Benberry gave Taylor Swift surprising relationship warning

    The Chasing Travis alumna commented after the celebs went public with their relationship in 2023

    Entertainment
  • Instagram/@selenagomezInstagram/@selenagomez
    2 days ago

    Selena Gomez praised by fans over one major detail from her bachelorette party

    The star is set to wed Benny Blacno after getting engaged last December

    Entertainment
  • ITVITV
    2 days ago

    Rylan Clark responds to backlash over controversial immigration comments on This Morning

    The TV star has doubled down on his immigration views after initially sharing them on This Morning on Wednesday (27th August)

    Entertainment
  • Fairytale of New York singer Kirsty MacColl died in tragic accident right after saving son’s life
  • Emily Ratajkowski debuts controversial new look as she reveals ‘worst haircut of her life’ with ‘bangs on the back of her head’
  • Naya Rivera's ex Ryan Dorsey addresses claims he became involved with her sister following star's tragic drowning
  • Woman who 'died' after allergic reaction reveals eerie details of what she saw before coming back to life