Lifeguards were not present at beach where Malcolm-Jamal Warner drowned due to lack of 'resources'

COSTA RICA, CENTRAL AMERICA: Heartbreaking details have been revealed about the absence of lifeguards due to lack of resources on the Playa Grande beach in Costa Rica, where Malcolm-Jamal Warner died on Sunday, 20 July, while on a family trip. 

The official cause of Warner's death at 54 has been reportedly attributed to "asphyxia" due to accidental drowning.

Malcolm-Jamal Warner swept away by strong current as no lifeguards on duty  

In a Facebook post on Monday, July 21, Caribbean Guard, Costa Rica’s volunteer lifeguard association, expressed deep "regret" over Warner's death, saying he was swept away by "strong hangover current" leading to his drowning.

“We deeply regret the passing of Malcolm-Jamal Warner at Playa Grande. He was swept away by a strong rip current and died by drowning,” the Caribbean Guard posted. 

"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," the statement added. "He was pulled from underwater without vital signs, and despite CPR maneuvers being performed on the beach, resuscitation was unsuccessful."

Playa Grande, where Malcolm-Jamal Warner drowned, is one of Costa Rica’s most challenging beaches

The statement mentioned that Playa Grande is "one of our most challenging beaches" and that signs are warning of the dangers. 

"It's a beach known by local surfers and there are signs (in English and Spanish) that warn of the danger of death by drowning," Caribbean Guard wrote.

While the Caribbean Guard has patrolled the beach for the last few years, they were not present there this "Sunday though."

The statement said the resources were allocated to Playa Negra, also called "Black Beach" due to "recent water incidents", besides Chiquita, another "emblematic beach, for its currents."

Caribbean Guard seeks support to prevent further deaths similar to Malcolm-Jamal Warner's

The Caribbean Guard also appealed to Costa Rica’s president, Rodrigo Chaves Robles, and the government to "minimize this problem."

“From Caribbean Guard, a volunteer lifeguard association, we make an urgent appeal to the President of the Nation, the national government, the Municipality of Talamanca, and the entire Caribbean community to continue joining forces to minimize this problem, which, sadly, is on the rise ACROSS THE ENTIRE COUNTRY," they wrote. 

The statement added, “We do everything within our reach. We have saved numerous lives in recent years, and if Caribbean Guard didn’t exist, the number of drownings would be counted in dozens."

"We give everything we have to minimize the risks, but without help from the government, clear public policies, and strong support from local business owners, this will continue to happen.”

Malcolm-Jamal Warner was brought to shore by bystanders as no lifeguard was around 

Reports said that Malcolm-Jamal Warner was swimming at Costa Rica’s Playa Grande beach in Cahuita, Limon, around 2:10 pm on Sunday when he was caught by a current.

Warner was rescued by bystanders and taken to shore, and soon after, three ambulances from Costa Rican Red Cross arrived at the scene.

However, Warner couldn't be revived and was declared dead on the scene. 

A spokesperson told People that paramedics "performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the patient for more than 20 minutes, but without successful results.”