Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s daughter was not in the water with him when he drowned, police clarify

 In an updated statement, Costa Rica police clarified details of the drowning incident that led to Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s death.

Since news of Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s death broke, fans have been learning more details about the accident that led to the beloved actor’s untimely passing. Yesterday, Costa Rican authorities reported to news outlets that Warner was swimming with his 8-year-old daughter before getting caught in a rip current. 

However, in a new statement to People magazine, Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) clarified that the actor’s daughter was not in the water with him at the time of his drowning. 

“Mr. Warner was playing with his daughter at the seashore at one point. He then left her out of the water, and he and a friend of his entered the sea,” the statement, translated from Spanish to English, said per People magazine. “It was at that moment that they were swept away by the current, and the friend managed to get out. However, Mr. Warner was unable to get out and was pulled out by several people on the beach. He received care from Red Cross officials, but was pronounced dead at the scene.”

As previously reported by theGrio, Warner’s cause of death was ruled as “asphyxia by submersion,” which occurs when the body is deprived of oxygen due to drowning and can lead to organ failure and ultimately death when oxygen is blocked or cannot be properly taken in. Costa Rican officials also ruled the incident to have been an accident. 

Warner’s tragic death reportedly took place while the star was on vacation with his wife and daughter. As the investigation continues, Black communities across the world are grieving the loss of the star.