Glee
actress Naya Rivera deads at lake in California
'Mustered
enough energy' to rescue her son 'but not enough
to save herself,' authorities say
Naya
Rivera used the last of her strength to save
her 4-year-old son before she died, Ventura
County Sheriff Bill Ayub said Monday
13th july.
"She
mustered enough energy to get her son back onto
the boat, but not enough to save herself,"
Ayub said.
A
body discovered Monday morning at Lake Piru
has been identified as the former "Glee"
actress, the Ventura County Sheriff's Office said
during a news conference.
Rivera
and her son rented a pontoon boat at Lake Piru
Wednesday 8th july. The
child told rescuers he and his mother had gone
into the water to swim, but she did not get back
on the boat. He told investigators he then looked
back and saw her disappear under the surface of
the water, Ayub said.
Her
son was found asleep on the rental pontoon boat
after it was overdue for return. One life jacket
was found on the boat and the boy was wearing
another.
Rivera,
33, was presumed dead after she went missing
Wednesday.
Her
body was found floating in the northeast area of
the lake where the water is between 35 and 60 feet
deep Monday, after a six-day search. Ayub said
investigators are "confident" the body
found was Rivera, but the body is still being
taken to Ventura County Coroner's Office, where it
will be identified through dental records.
A
boat of the Ventura County Sheriff's Office is
seen, Monday, July 13, 2020 in Lake Piru, Calif.
Naya Rivera's body was found in the lake six days
after she went missing.
Ayub
said the sheriff's department has been "in
direct contact" with Rivera's family.
"Her
family has been at the lake everyday holding out
hope and communicating with our investigators,"
Ayub said.
The
actress is best known for her role as Santana
Lopez on the Fox show "Glee," which
quickly won critical acclaim after debuting in
2009. She appeared in nearly every episode of the
beloved musical-comedy-drama, which ended in
2015.
Rivera's
fellow "Glee" cast members Cory
Monteith and Mark Salling have also
died.
Members
of the show's cast took to social media to mourn
their costar, sharing their condolences to
Rivera's family.
"How
can you convey all your love and respect for
someone in one post?" Chris Colfer, who
played Kurt on "Glee," wrote on his
Instagram in a lengthy, emotional caption of a
picture of him and Rivera. "How can you
summarize a decade of friendship and laughter with
words alone? If you were friends with Naya Rivera,
you simply can't." Friends and colleagues
remember Naya Rivera Friends and colleagues
remember Naya Rivera
"Rest
sweet, Naya," Jane Lynch, who played
Coach Sue Sylvester on the show, tweeted.
"What a force you were. Love and peace to
your family.
Rivera
was also on the CBS sitcom "The Royal
Family" and in the comedy film "The
Master of Disguise." More recently, she
starred in the "Step Up" television
series, based on the movie franchise.
Rivera's
fellow "Glee" cast members Cory
Monteith and Mark Salling have also
died.
