Naya Rivera's cause of death revealed as family make first public statement

Officials in California have released the results of actress Naya Rivera's post-mortem examination, revealing that the former Glee star died of accidental drowning.

In a tweet shared by the Ventura County Sheriff's Office, the Ventura County Medical Examiner's Officer also revealed that "there is no indication from the investigation or examination that drugs or alcohol played a part" in Naya's death.

However, specimens will still be submitted for a toxicology test.

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Per TMZ, Naya's family has also released their first public statement since the disappearance and death of the actress, in which they say how grateful they are for the outpouring of love and prayers over the past week.

They added: "While we grieve the loss of our beautiful legend, we are blessed to honor her everlasting legacy and magnetic spirit. Naya was an amazing talent, but was an even greater person, mother, daughter, and sister."

The Rivera family also thanked the men and women of Ventura, Tulare, and San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Departments for their unwavering commitment to finding Naya.

The family said: "We extend endless gratitude and ovation to the heroine who found her. Thank you to her friends, colleagues, and fans for your continuous support. Heaven gained our sassy angel. We kindly request that our privacy be respected during this very difficult time."

Naya's body was discovered in Lake Piru on Monday.

Speaking at the conference later that day, Ventura County Sheriff Bill Ayub announced:

"Today our search teams recovered a body in the lake. Based on the location where the body was found, physical characteristics of the body, clothing found on the body, and the physical condition of the body - as well as the absence of any other persons reported missing in the area - we are confident that the body found is that of Naya Rivera."

Officials added that "she was found in a north-eastern portion of the lake, near the surface of the water".

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Ayub also said that Naya's four-year-old son was able to help detectives with their investigation, saying:

"We know from speaking with her son that he and Naya swam in the lake together at some point during their journey. it was during that time that she's son described being helped into the boat by Naya, who boosted him into the boat from behind. 

"He told investigators that he looked back and saw her disappear under the surface of the water."

The Sheriff added that in her final moments, Naya was able to "muster enough energy" to save her son's life, but not her own:

"The idea perhaps being that the boat started drifting, it was unanchored, and that she mustered enough energy to get her son back onto the boat, but not enough to save herself."

Naya's son was found sleeping and drifting alone in the lake roughly three hours after they rented the boat.

Rivera's last Instagram post was a picture of her and her son, Josey, captioned: "It's just the two of us."

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In another post published last week, Rivera told her fans: "No matter the year, circumstance, or strifes everyday you're alive is a blessing. make the most of today and every day you are given. tomorrow is not promised [sic]."

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Rivera started her career in the spotlight as a child actress and model, appearing in TV commercials in the US.

At four years old, she landed the role in the CBS sitcom The Royal Family - and had a number of other TV appearances followed.

However, Rivera became a household name when she landed the role of cold-hearted cheerleader Santana Lopez in Glee back in 2009.

Rivera married fellow actor Ryan Dorsey back in 2014, and the couple welcomed their son - Josey Hollis Dorsey - in 2015.

The couple divorced in 2018, but maintained joint custody of their son up until Rivera's passing.

Our thoughts go out to Naya's family, friends, and fans at this time...