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Nearly five years after the tragic drowning of actress Naya Rivera, her ex-husband Ryan Dorsey has spoken out in his first in-depth interview, sharing the poignant final moments Rivera spent with their son, Josey, before her untimely death.
On July 8, 2020, Rivera and then-four-year-old Josey went for a swim during a day out at Lake Piru in Southern California, having rented a pontoon boat for a private outing.
Tragically, Rivera never returned to shore, and was declared missing. Her body was discovered five days later, on July 13, following a large-scale search operation. She was just 33 years old.
Now, speaking to PEOPLE, Dorsey has revealed heartbreaking details Josey remembers from that day, including the last words his mother said to him.
“She told him, ‘Don’t be silly,’ when he said he was scared to swim,” Dorsey said. “She was trying to reassure him.”
Josey jumped into the water with Rivera, but the boat they had rented began drifting away. In her final moments, Rivera focused entirely on getting her son back on board.
Dorsey shared that Josey has described the experience in remarkable detail, recalling that he held onto “the tanks” as his mother helped him back to safety. “He said the last thing she said was his name, and then she went under, and he didn’t see her anymore,” Dorsey recalled.
The now-nine-year-old has struggled with lingering feelings of guilt. “He keeps bringing up this moment with a rope on the boat, he said he saw a rope, but there was a big spider on it, and he was too scared to use it,” Dorsey said.
“He thinks if he’d thrown it, he might have saved her. I keep telling him, ‘Buddy, that rope wasn’t long enough. You couldn’t have done anything.’ But that moment clearly haunts him,” he added.
Dorsey reflected on the possible causes of Rivera’s drowning, calling it a “freak occurrence,” possibly involving underwater brush or a strong undercurrent. “I’d like to think if I had been there, I could’ve saved her,” he admitted. “But maybe we both could have ended up in danger. I’ll never know.”
He also recounted the harrowing moment he first learned of Rivera’s disappearance. Dorsey, now 41, was grocery shopping in Big Bear Lake when he received a call from Rivera’s stepfather, telling him that Naya was missing.
“I just dropped to the ground,” he said, via The Independent. “I couldn’t believe it. I drove like a maniac to get to Josey, crying the whole way, chain-smoking even though I don’t smoke.”
In 2022, Rivera’s family reached a wrongful death settlement with Ventura County, where Lake Piru is located.
The lawsuit alleged insufficient safety warnings and signage around the lake, according to Sky News. The settlement ensures that Josey will be financially supported in the years to come.
“While no amount of money can ever replace his mother,” the family said in a statement, “we’re grateful this settlement will help Josey build a future, one his mom would have wanted for him.”
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Nearly five years after the tragic death of Naya Rivera, the Glee star's ex-husband has opened up about the heartbreaking details surrounding her final moments.
On July 8, 2020, the late actress and her then-four-year-old son Josey went swimming at Lake Piru in Southern California, having rented a pontoon boat for a private outing.
Tragically, Rivera never returned to shore and was declared missing. Her body was discovered five days later, on July 13, following a large-scale search operation.
An official incident report revealed that the 33-year-old drowned due to exhaustion from trying to help her son back onto the boat, with The Hollywood Reporter confirming the details.
Naya Rivera has tragically passed away at the age of 33. Credit: Jeff Vespa / Getty
In a new interview with PEOPLE, Rivera's ex-husband, Ryan Dorsey, spoke about the fatal incident and how the loss continues to affect him and their young son, Josey.
“When it happened, I just found myself shaking my head, like, 'I can't believe she's gone,'" he told the outlet. "It's still so surreal every day."
The father revealed that the now-10-year-old continues to recall a specific heartbreaking memory from that day: “Something he’s said over and over is that he was trying to find a life raft, and there was a rope, but there was a big spider on the rope, and he was too scared to throw it.
"I keep reassuring him, ‘Buddy, that rope wasn’t going to be long enough,'” he added.
The devastation of the Step Up: High Water star's final moments also weighed heavily on Dorsey, who explained that Josey’s memory of his mother’s last words has haunted him.
“He said that the last thing she said was his name, and then she went under, and he didn’t see her anymore," Dorsey says. "It just rocks my world that he had to witness her last moments.”
Josey still feels guilt for being unable to save his mom. Credit: Gregg DeGuire/Getty Images
Dorsey reflected on the possible causes of Rivera’s drowning, calling it a “freak occurrence,” possibly involving underwater brush or a strong undercurrent.
“I’d like to think if I had been there, I could’ve saved her,” he admitted. “But maybe we both could have ended up in danger. I’ll never know.”
The aftermath of the Glee icon's death led to a wrongful death lawsuit filed by her estate, with Dorsey acting on behalf of their son.
According to Sky News, in 2022, they filed a suit against Ventura County, claiming the boat Rivera rented lacked proper safety equipment. The lawsuit called her death "utterly preventable," highlighting that the boat's lack of life-saving features contributed to the tragedy.
The suit also pointed to the fact that over two dozen people have died in the lake since 1959. The plaintiffs claimed there were no signs warning of the lake’s strong currents.
In response, Ventura County argued that Rivera had declined to wear a lifejacket, which had been provided with the boat.
The case was eventually settled, with lawyer Amjad M. Khan issuing a statement on behalf of the family: “Through this settlement, Josey will receive just compensation for having to endure the drowning of his beloved mother at Lake Piru. Though the tragic loss of Josey's mother can never truly be overcome, we are very pleased that the monetary settlement will significantly assist Josey with his life beyond this tragedy."
Warning: This article contains distressing details.
Naya Rivera's son has revealed the actress' final heartbreaking words before she tragically drowned in front of him.
On July 8, 2020, the Glee star and her son Josey went on a boating trip at Lake Piru in California, a popular location for swimming and boating.
But four hours after they left shore, the little boy, who was four at the time, was discovered alone and asleep in the pontoon boat wearing a lifejacket. His 33-year-old mother was declared missing, and an urgent hunt was launched to try and find her.
Tragically, five days later, on the anniversary of her Glee co-star Cory Monteith’s death, Rivera’s body was discovered in the lake. Her death was ruled an accidental drowning.
Nearly five years after Rivera's death, her ex-husband Ryan Dorsey is now opening up to People about their son's heartbreaking memories of that day - including his mom telling him: “Don’t be silly!” after he told her he was scared to swim.
The mother and son had been enjoying the water together when the actress noticed their boat drifting away. Josey still remembers holding onto “the tanks” as he struggled to bring himself back to the boat.
Watch the interview below:
“He said that the last thing she said was his name, and then she went under, and he didn’t see her anymore,” Dorsey shared.
One of the most heartbreaking details the father shared is how his son still carries guilt over his mother’s death.
“Something he’s said over and over is that he was trying to find a life raft, and there was a rope, but there was a big spider on the rope, and he was too scared to throw it,” he told the outlet.
“I keep reassuring him, ‘Buddy, that rope wasn’t going to be long enough.’ That obviously still sticks out in his head because he feels like he could have saved her," he added.
Dorsey went on to speculate that the drowning was likely caused by a freak current or perhaps Rivera was caught in the underwater brush.
“I probably would have jumped in, and I like to think I would've saved the day,” he admitted. “But on the other hand, I think maybe something bad could have happened to both of us. I don't know.”
The 41-year-old was shopping at a supermarket in Big Bear Lake, California when he got the call that Rivera had disappeared.
“I instantly said, ‘What do you mean? She knows how to swim.’ He said, 'They jumped in, and Josey got back on, and they're trying to find Naya,’” Dorsey recalled.
The devastating news hit him like a ton of bricks so he drove towards Lake Piru with his "four-way hazards on, chain-smoking cigarettes," adding: "I don’t even smoke, really - and just crying. I just wanted to get to Josey.
“If we’d have lost both Naya and Josey, I don’t know how I would continue on with my life,” he emotionally shared. "I don't know what I would've done, but I'm sure it wouldn't have been good."
In 2022, Rivera’s bereaved family reached a wrongful death settlement against Ventura County.
In a statement to E! News, they expressed relief that the settlement would help provide for Josey’s future.
“Through this settlement, Josey will receive just compensation for having to endure the drowning of his beloved mother at Lake Piru,” the statement read.
“Though the tragic loss of Josey’s mother can never truly be overcome, we are very pleased that the monetary settlement will significantly assist Josey with his life beyond this tragedy,” they added.
Naya Rivera's ex-husband has revealed the heartbreaking reason their son feels guilty he was unable to save his mother from drowning.
The Glee star died at the age of 33 on July 8, 2020, while on a boat in Lake Piru with her son Josey Hollis Dorsey, who was just four years old at the time.
Rivera had been declared missing after the boat was found floating with Josey alone inside, but no sign of his mother.
A search had begun after Rivera had failed to return the boat she'd rented after the allocated time, and a rescue mission was launched when her young son was found alone inside it with his life jacket on.
Her body was found on July 13, with the sheriff suggesting that Rivera and Josey - who'd been swimming at the time - may have found themselves caught in a rip current and struggled to get back to the boat, saying that she likely "mustered enough energy to save her son, but not enough to save herself."
Four and a half years have passed since her tragic death, but Rivera's son - now nine - still holds guilt that he couldn't do more to save her life, according to his dad, Ryan Dorsey.
The 41-year-old explained in a new interview with People: "He said that the last thing she said was his name, and then she went under, and he didn't see her anymore. It just rocks my world that he had to witness her last moments."
Revealing how Josey tried to help his mom, Dorsey added: "Something he's said over and over is that he was trying to find a life raft, and there was a rope, but there was a big spider on the rope, and he was too scared to throw it.
"I keep reassuring him, 'Buddy, that rope wasn't going to be long enough.'
"That obviously still sticks out in his head because he feels like he could have saved her. I think she just got caught up in a brush — that or a weird undercurrent from the dam. It was just a freak occurrence."
Dorsey admitted that he also wonders if things could have been different if he had also been there that day, but admits it would not necessarily have meant a less tragic outcome.
"I probably would have jumped in, and I like to think I would've saved the day. But on the other hand, I think maybe something bad could have happened to both of us. I don't know," he told the outlet.
The 41-year-old acknowledged how difficult it has been to grieve for Rivera, admitting that he still can't look at pictures of her.
After he heard the news she was missing, he recalls collapsing at Ralph's grocery store in Big Bear, before driving 100MPH on the 145-mile journey to Lake Piru to help with the search.
Dorsey called it the "worst five days of my life" as he feared they may never find her body.
Lake Piru, a 130ft-deep man-made reservoir, is known for its unpredictable currents and whirlpools, and 26 other people have reportedly drowned in its waters.
Ventura County reached a confidential settlement with Dorsey in 2022 after he filed a wrongful death lawsuit due to the rented boat "not complying with safety standards."
Attorney Amjad M. Khan wrote in a statement to The Blast at the time: "Through this settlement, Josey will receive just compensation for having to endure the drowning of his beloved mother at Lake Piru.
"Though the tragic loss of Josey's mother can never truly be overcome, we are very pleased that the monetary settlement will significantly assist Josey with his life beyond this tragedy."
Dorsey also revealed how he helps Josey grieve for his mother, explaining: "You can only give him a hug and tell him, 'I know, life is not fair. Bad things happen and there's no reason for it, and you just have to do your best to be a good person.'
"It's hard trying to explain things that you can't really make sense of no matter what age you are.
"I'm not a big believer in everything happens for a reason because I can't ever think of a reason why he doesn't have his mom."
Naya Rivera's tragic death at the age of just 33 shocked the world and prompted an outpouring of grief after her body was discovered following an accidental drowning.
The 33-year-old rose to fame on Glee for her role as cheerleader Santana Lopez.
Now, the actress's ex-husband Ryan Dorsey, who she was married to for four years from 2014 to 2018, has publically mourned her loss for the first time in a social media post.
He wrote on Instagram: "This is so unfair... there's not enough words to express the hole left in everyone's hearts.
"I can't believe this is life now. I don't know if I'll ever believe it. You were just here... We were just in the back swimming with Josey the day before. Life just isn't fair."
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"I don't know what to say… I'm thankful for our times and our journey that brought us together and gave us the sweetest and kindest smart little boy we could ever hope for.
"Life is all about good times and bad times but with Josey it makes the bad a little less so because a part of you will always be with us. He'll never forget where he came from."
Nickayla Rivera, Naya's sister, also took to Instagram to mourn her loss, writing that she will miss her "every second of my life".
"There are no words to describe my love for you," she wrote.
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She continued: "Side by side or miles apart, our connection is infinite. Our bond is unbreakable. We were complete opposites, yet simultaneously the same. The yin to my yang. I never knew that by losing you, I would find so much of you in myself."
"I've never known a life without you in it & still can't imagine it. My world is turned upside down. But through it all, everything we were, we are still. I'll always look at you with the same eyes as I did when I was young.
"My shmaya, I'll love you for eternity and miss you every second of my life."
Rivera's co-stars from Glee also took to social media to praise their late costar, per the BBC.
Kevin McHale, who played Artie Abrams on the show, wrote: "She was so independent and strong and the idea of her not being here is something I cannot comprehend."
Jane Lynch, who played cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester, added: "Rest sweet, Naya. What a force you were. Love and peace to your family."
Security footage has been released showing the last known movements of Glee actor, Naya Rivera, who is feared to have drowned after taking her four-year-old son out on a lake in southern California.
The CCTV video was made public by law enforcement after an extensive search of the area, which reportedly involved dive teams and helicopters, failed to locate the 33-year-old, who is presumed to be dead.
The footage shows Rivera arriving at the lake in her black 4x4, and taking her son from the back seat before walking over to the pontoon. It also shows her boat leaving the dock and heading out onto the lake.
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The Glee star - who played cheerleader Santana Lopez in the hit musical TV show - had reportedly rented a pontoon boat on Wednesday afternoon, but just three hours later, another boater raised the alarm after finding Rivera's boat with just her son asleep inside, BBC News reports.
Police did find Rivera's life vest in the boat and believe that "she did go in the lake" for a swim.
Officials from Ventura County Sheriff's office say that they acknowledge that "this may well be a case of drowning". Her car was reportedly found nearby.
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Ventura County Sheriff's Department Captain Eric Buschow told The Los Angeles Times that investigators arrived at the scene at roughly 4:40PM and found a young child "unharmed".
He added: "He's in good health. The family is going through a very traumatic time right now."
Prior to being pronounced missing, Rivera's last Instagram post sees her cuddling her son. "just the two of us," she captioned the picture.
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Another post, published six days ago, sees the 33-year-old tell 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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After the news broke, several of Rivera's Glee co-stars took to social media to express their concerns and prayers.
Actress Heather Morris wrote on her Instagram stories: "We need all the prayers we can get to bring our Naya back home to us. We need your love and light."
And Harry Shum Jr. simply tweeted: "Praying."
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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 maintain joint custody of their son.
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