Heartbreaking new details emerge in Malcolm-Jamal Warner drowning death as second victim was trying to SAVE actor

A man left in critical condition after the drowning death of Malcolm-Jamal Warner was trying to save the actor, officials have confirmed.

The Cosby Show icon, 54, died on a Costa Rican beach without lifeguards present, and a spokesman for The Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) revealed the Good Samaritan had entered the water to help Warner after he was swept away by a rip current.

A statement obtained by People confirmed the unidentified 35-year-old man had no personal connection to the actor beforehand and was simply on the beach at the time Warner got into difficulty.

An investigation is still ongoing.

DailyMail.com has contacted the OIJ for further comment and has yet to hear back. 

Costa Rican cops ruled Warner’s cause of death as asphyxiation by submersion.

Warner was swimming at Playa Cocles in Limon province when a current pulled him deeper into the ocean. 

First responders from Costa Rica’s Red Cross found Warner without vital signs when they attended the scene of the ‘water related incident’ around 2.10pm on Sunday.

CPR was performed on him for around 20 minutes before he was pronounced dead.

Per the OIJ, Warner’s body will be ‘removed from the Judicial Morgue by a funeral service company hired and authorized by Mr. Warner’s family.’

Following Warner’s shock death, lifeguards from Playa Grande — a beach community located on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica — released a statement saying they were not present due to lack of ‘resources.’

‘We deeply regret the passing of Malcolm-Jamal Warner at Playa Grande. He was swept away by a strong rip current and died by drowning,’ the Caribbean Guard, Costa Rica’s volunteer lifeguard association, shared via Facebook on Monday.

‘It all happened very quickly, and although there were people on the beach who entered the water to rescue him, they did not arrive in time.’

‘He was pulled from underwater without vital signs, and despite CPR maneuvers being performed on the beach, resuscitation was unsuccessful.’ 

The Guard added that Playa Grande is one of their ‘most challenging beaches,’ noting the presence of signs in English and Spanish that warn of the ‘danger of death due to drowning.’

Though the Guard has patrolled there ‘over the past few years,’ they alleged that they were ‘not present’ at the time of Warner’s death.

‘Due to recent aquatic incidents in Playa Negra, we had redirected resources there and to Chiquita, another iconic beach known for its strong currents,’ they shared in the statement.

They then made an appeal to Costa Rica’s president, Rodrigo Chaves Robles, and the government.

‘From Caribbean Guard, a volunteer lifeguard association, we make an urgent appeal to the President of the Nation, the national government, the Municipality of Talamanca, and the entire Caribbean community to continue joining forces to minimize this problem, which, sadly, is on the rise ACROSS THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.’

‘We do everything within our reach. We have saved numerous lives in recent years, and if Caribbean Guard didn’t exist, the number of drownings would be counted in dozens. We give everything we have to minimize the risks, but without help from the government, clear public policies, and strong support from local business owners, this will continue to happen.’ 

According to the Red Cross, emergency personnel also treated a second person at the scene. 

An unidentified 35-year-old man was transported to a local clinic in critical condition, and his current status remains unknown. 

On Sunday, the Costa Rican Red Cross received a 9-1-1 alert about a water incident at Playa Grande, Cahuita, Limón. In response, three ambulances were sent to the scene, as per Us Weekly.

Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Department told Us Weekly that their preliminary investigation indicated Warner ‘appeared to have entered the sea and was apparently swept away by a current.’ 

Warner had been in Costa Rica since July 13.

The Costa Rican National Police reported that Warner’s body was discovered near Cocles, a beach in the Limon province.

While the exact circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear, experts note that some beaches in Costa Rica can pose serious risks depending on conditions.

Though many areas are safe for swimming, others are known for powerful currents and rip tides that demand caution.

Warner is survived by his wife and young daughter, born in 2017. Their identities have not been revealed. 

Warner was best known for his iconic role as Theodore Huxtable, the only son of Cliff Huxtable, on the beloved NBC sitcom The Cosby Show. He appeared in all eight seasons from 1984 to 1992, earning widespread acclaim and becoming a household name.

At the time, Warner was just a teenager, but his performance earned widespread acclaim, including a nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series at the 1986 Primetime Emmy Awards.

His character, Theo, was based on Bill Cosby’s real-life son, Ennis Cosby, and was portrayed with depth and sensitivity.

In the show, Theo is diagnosed with dyslexia after struggling academically during his freshman year at New York University—an arc that resonated with many viewers.

Beyond The Cosby Show, Warner carved out a successful and diverse career in both comedy and drama.

He starred as Malcolm McGee in the UPN sitcom Malcolm & Eddie (1996–2000) opposite Eddie Griffin, and later headlined BET’s Reed Between the Lines from 2011 to 2015 as Dr. Alex Reed.

His television credits also included recurring roles and guest appearances on shows like Sons of Anarchy, Jeremiah, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and Community. Warner also voiced the Producer character on the educational children’s series The Magic School Bus.