Fact Check: Was Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s daughter in the water when he drowned in Costa Rica?

PUERTO VIEJO, COSTA RICA: Malcolm‑Jamal Warner tragically drowned while swimming with his young daughter during their visit to Costa Rica on Sunday, July 20.

The circumstances surrounding the incident, particularly whether his eight‑year‑old daughter was in the water with him when it happened, remain a focal point of ongoing investigations.

Several media outlets claimed that Warner had drowned while swimming with his eight-year-old daughter off the coast of Costa Rica.

Fact Check: No, Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s daughter was not in the water when he drowned

Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) confirmed that Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s daughter was not in the ocean when the drowning occurred.

In a statement to People magazine, translated from Spanish to English, officials clarified, “Mr Warner was playing with his daughter at the seashore at one point. He then left her out of the water, and he and a friend of his entered the sea.

The statement continued, “It was at that moment that they were swept away by the current, and the friend managed to get out. However, Mr Warner was unable to get out and was pulled out by several people on the beach. He received care from Red Cross officials, but was pronounced dead at the scene.”

On Monday, July 21, the Costa Rican National Police confirmed to The Post that bystanders had rescued Warner from the water and brought him to shore. The Costa Rica Red Cross attempted to revive him, but their efforts were unsuccessful. He was pronounced dead at the scene at age 54.

Bystanders, including a doctor who happened to be on the beach, rushed into the water and helped recover Warner’s body.

Malcolm-Jamal Warner's tragic drowning sparks safety concerns at Costa Rica beaches

The sudden and tragic death of 'The Cosby Show' star Malcolm-Jamal Warner in Costa Rica has triggered renewed calls for stronger beach safety infrastructure, after local volunteer lifeguards confirmed they were not present at Playa Grande when the actor was swept away by a powerful rip current.

Costa Rica’s volunteer lifeguard group, Caribbean Guard, issued a public statement expressing condolences over Warner’s death and highlighting the difficulties they face in patrolling the region’s beaches.

They confirmed that no lifeguards were present at Playa Grande when the incident occurred, as resources had been redirected to Playa Negra and Chiquita, two nearby beaches recently affected by water-related emergencies.

“We deeply regret the passing of Malcolm-Jamal Warner at Playa Grande,” the organization stated. “He was swept away by a strong rip current and died by drowning. 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 lifeguard association described Playa Grande as “one of the most challenging beaches” in the region.