No Lifeguards Were Present When Malcolm-Jamal Warner Drowned At Deadly Beach

Malcolm-Jamal Warner's tragic and sudden demise has sent shockwaves through Hollywood and left many fans heartbroken.

Reports confirmed that the actor, popular for the role as Theo Huxtable on "The Cosby Show," passed away on July 20 after a drowning incident at Playa Grande in Limón Province, Costa Rica.

In the wake of the tragedy, a new update about the incident has come to light, revealing that there were no lifeguards present on the beach at the time of the actor's death.

On July 21, the Caribbean Guard, Costa Rica's volunteer lifeguard association, took to Facebook to announce the passing of Malcolm-Jamar Warner.

"We deeply regret the passing of Malcolm-Jamal Warner in Playa Grande. He was swept away by a strong hangover current and died by drowning. It was all very fast, and even though there were people on the beach who came in to rescue him, they didn't arrive in time," the statement read.

The association also revealed that the actor was pulled from underwater with no vital signs, and attempts to resuscitate him, including CPR, were made, but they were unsuccessful.

The Caribbean Guard described Playa Grande as one of the most "challenging beaches" with warnings of death by drowning.

While lifeguards had patrolled there over the years, they revealed none of them were present at the time of the incident.

"Due to recent aquatic incidents in Playa Negra, we had redirected resources there and to Chiquita, another iconic beach known for its strong currents," they noted.

The Caribbean Guard issued a public plea for government assistance, emphasizing the need for more funding and staffing.

"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.

They also explained that they have done everything possible with the limited resources at their disposal.

The association added that their team had saved many lives over the past few years and warned that, without their presence, the number of drownings would already be in the 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," they concluded.

On Monday, local officials and the Costa Rican Red Cross confirmed that Warner was caught in a powerful rip current around 2:10 p.m.

According to reports, the emergency unit was immediately contacted, and three ambulances were dispatched to the scene.

Upon arrival, the first responders pronounced the 54-year-old dead. The Red Cross also stated that another 35-year-old man was rescued from the same waters in critical condition and rushed to a nearby clinic.

Officials later confirmed Warner's cause of death as accidental drowning or asphyxia by submersion.

Meanwhile, Warner's body has since been transferred from Limón to the Forensic Medicine Unit in San Joaquín de Flores for an autopsy.

Following Warner's demise, Eddie Griffin, who starred alongside the actor on the late-'90s sitcom "Malcolm & Eddie," took to social media to pay tribute to his longtime friend.

The two actors spent four seasons playing business partners and friends on the popular UPN series, building a close friendship off‑screen.

In an emotional Instagram story upload, Griffin shared a black and white photo of Warner and captioned it, "My Big little Brother."

He also posted a tribute to Warner, writing, "My Heart is heavy today… For what the world lost was a Father, Son, Poet, Musician, Actor, Teacher, Writer, Director, Friend, and Warrior that I had the pleasure of going to war with against the Hollywood machine and sometimes with each other because that's what Brothers do, but the Love was and is always there."

Griffin concluded, "You've taught me so much and I thank you. Rest Well My Big little Brother."

Bill Cosby has also released a statement in honor of Warner's memory. Recall that Cosby played Dr Heathcliff Huxtable, the father of Warner's Theo Huxtable on "The Cosby Show."

Speaking to CBS News correspondent Jericka Duncan, the comedian said of Warner, "He was never afraid to go to his room and study."

Cosby also remembered the late icon as a phenomenal actor who "knew his lines and that he was quite comfortable even with the growing pains of being a teenager."

The 88-year-old recalled speaking to Warner a few months before his demise.

"What we talked about was something he was very proud of. He had done a concert in Minnesota with a symphony, and there was something he had written, but he was very proud of what he had done and what he had said, and it was about living in America," he said.