Malcolm-Jamal Warner tried to save his daughter in the ocean before he drowned, an official confirms exclusively to Us Weekly.
According to Elberth León, head of the Tourist Police for Costa Rica’s Atlantic region, both Warner and his daughter found themselves dragged by an ocean current when the accident occurred on Sunday, July 20.
“Both were dragged by the current,” León shared with Us on Thursday, July 24. “They were bathing together and were caught by a rip current. Obviously, as a father, he fought for his daughter, but the current in that area is very strong, and they couldn’t accomplish the objective.”
León said authorities received an incident call through the 911 emergency system on Sunday near Playa Grande, Cahuita, Limón. When tourist police arrived at the beach, Red Cross personnel were already there.
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“They indicated that Mr. Malcolm was in the water enjoying himself with his daughter. At that moment, they were dragged by a rip current,” León shared. “Two people who were there at the location went in with a surfboard and a boogie board to help rescue the people who were caught in the current.”
One of the helpers managed to get Warner’s daughter back to land safely. Soon after, the unidentified individual had to help another adult male patient.
“They managed to stay with the girl, managed to get her onto the board, but due to the strength of the current, one of them, from Nicaragua, had to let go of the board and push it toward the shore so the girl could make it to land or the coast,” León explained. “The person who pushed the board was also dragged by the current, so it forced the person with the board to go back into the sea to pull him out. They managed to get him out in critical condition. He was very exhausted.”
Warner was later pulled out by the Red Cross lifeguards and one of the rescuers from Caribbean Guards without vital signs, León said.
The Costa Rica Red Cross confirmed to Us on Monday, July 21, that emergency personnel attended to two adult male patients at the scene. One man was transported in critical condition to the local clinic while CPR was performed on Warner.
The Cosby Show alum was later pronounced dead at the scene. He was 54. The other individual has been discharged, according to León.
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The Costa Rican Judicial Investigation Agency confirmed to Us that Warner’s autopsy was completed on Tuesday, July 22, with “asphyxia due to submersion” found as the cause. His death was ruled accidental by officials.
León said the beach where Warner and his daughter visited is normally under a red flag due to the very frequent rip currents in the area.
“We believe it was one of the days with the highest waves and the strongest currents,” León shared. “He was at the shore rinsing off sand with the girl. They took a quick dip and that’s when it happened.”
