Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s 8-year-old daughter was saved by two courageous bystanders after both were caught in a dangerous ocean current while vacationing in Costa Rica. Warner, best known for his role in The Cosby Show, was swimming with his daughter when a sudden wave submerged them. The incident occurred earlier this month, and it has since drawn attention to the perils of ocean swimming.
According to Elberth León, head of the Tourist Police for Costa Rica’s Atlantic region, two individuals on the beach quickly responded to the crisis. They entered the water with a surfboard and a boogie board to assist in the rescue. “They managed to stay with the girl and get her onto the board,” León explained to Us Weekly. “But due to the strength of the current, one of them had to let go of the board and push it toward the shore so the girl could make it to the coast.”
The situation escalated as one of the rescuers lost hold of the board while trying to save Warner. León noted, “The current was very strong; they couldn’t swim with the girl on the board.” Despite their bravery, the rescuer was also swept away by the current.
Warner, who initially attempted to help his daughter, was also pulled under the water by the current. “Both were dragged by the current,” León stated. “Obviously, as a father, he fought for his daughter, but the current in that area is very strong, and they couldn’t accomplish the objective.”
Tragically, Warner was pronounced dead at the scene, with officials later determining the cause of death to be asphyxia due to submersion. He was 54 years old. The circumstances surrounding his death have been ruled accidental.
The two bystanders and Warner’s daughter have since recovered from the incident. Warner’s legacy extends beyond his acting career, which includes notable roles in series such as Malcolm & Eddie and The Resident. In a podcast episode of Hot & Bothered earlier this year, he reflected on his life and how he hoped to be remembered: “I will be able to leave this earth knowing and people knowing that I was a good person.”
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictability of ocean conditions and the importance of safety while swimming in unfamiliar waters.
