Malcolm-Jamal Warner Drowning: Second Person in Critical Condition Was Trying to Save Actor's Life (Exclusive)

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5 days ago

PEOPLE has confirmed that the other person involved in the incident did not have a personal relationship to Warner, but entered the water in an effort to save him
More information has come to light about the second person involved in Malcolm-Jamal Warner's drowning.
On Sunday, July 20, the Cosby Show actor drowned while swimming during a family trip in Costa Rica. He was 54.
It was later revealed that another person was taken by an ambulance to a local hospital and is in critical condition from the same incident where Warner drowned.
The Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) told PEOPLE in a statement that the actor "was apparently swept away by a current" and "was rescued by bystanders" but "declared lifeless" on shore.
The other person, who remains in critical condition, entered the water to try and save Warner, officials exclusively confirm to PEOPLE.
A spokesperson for the OIJ tells PEOPLE on Tuesday, July 22, that the second victim "came in [the water] to help Mr. Warner."
No information regarding the victim's identity has been shared.
The spokesperson also confirms that the other person had no personal connection to Warner, but was on the beach and decided to help.
An investigation is still ongoing, per authorities.
The Costa Rican Red Cross previously told PEOPLE they "attended" to two adult males after receiving a report of a "water-related" incident around 2:10 p.m. on Sunday.
CPR was performed on Warner for 20 minutes, per the agency, but he was declared dead at the scene.
Warner had been on vacation with his wife and daughter at the time of the incident, a source told NBC News.
Warner's official cause of death was also confirmed on Tuesday after an autopsy was performed.
The actor died from accidental asphyxiation by submersion, per the OIJ, who confirmed that an autopsy took place on July 22.
His body was formally identified by Costa Rican National Police, and, per the OIJ, will be "removed from the Judicial Morgue by a funeral service company hired and authorized by Mr. Warner's family."
Tributes have been pouring in for the actor since the news broke of his shocking death.
Known for playing Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show, as well as beloved roles on Malcolm & Eddie, Reed Between the Lines and The Resident, stars from across Hollywood have been paying tribute to Warner on social media.
Tracee Ellis Ross, who he starred in Reed Between the Lines with, remembered him fondly as "my first TV husband" in an Instagram post.
"My heart is so so sad. What an actor and friend you were: warm, gentle, present, kind, thoughtful, deep, funny, elegant. You made the world a brighter place."
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Bill Cosby also spoke out via spokesperson Andrew Wyatt, who told PEOPLE that Warner's death "reminded him of the same call he received when his son died.'
"He had just done a concert in Minnesota and called Mr. Cosby and talked about it. They spoke all the time. He said 'Malcolm was changing humanity,'" Wyatt said.
Read the original article on People