A doctor who was on the scene and helped recover the late Malcolm-Jamal Warner from a Costa Rica ocean is speaking out.
“I was about 200 meters from the incident, at Playa Grande, spending the day on vacation with my partner,” the doctor — who asked for their identity not to be revealed — exclusively shared with Us Weekly. “There were very few people on the beach, and the sea was rough.”
When the doctor heard a group of people shouting and calling for help, the medical professional quickly sprang into action.
“I ran to the area and entered the sea with my surfboard, heading into the rip current toward the person being pointed at by some beachgoers,” the doctor recalled. “After a few minutes, I saw a shadow, dove down and pulled the person out.”
Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s friend Candace Kelley is looking back on her fond memories and moments with the late star. “On average, Malcolm and I would text every other day and speak once or twice a week,” Kelley exclusively told Us Weekly of Warner on Wednesday, July 23. The pair, who became friends two years ago, cohosted […]
When the doctor was able to reach the beach, another young man was lying on the sand, struggling to breathe.
“[He was] just someone who tried to help during the emergency, without any rescue equipment,” said the doctor.
Elberth León, head of the Tourist Police for Costa Rica’s Atlantic region, previously confirmed to Us that emergency personnel attended to two adult male patients at the scene. One man was transported in critical condition to the local clinic. He has since been released.
The other individual, later identified as Warner, was unable to be resuscitated.
“Immediately, [first responders] began providing first aid to Malcolm, but he had no vital signs,” the doctor recalled. “Two tourists ran over to help. They identified themselves as doctors, making a total of three physicians at the scene.”
Malcolm-Jamal Warner Paras Griffin/Getty Images
After a few minutes, the Red Cross arrived and used specialized equipment, including a defibrillator. Tragically, Warner did not respond and was pronounced dead at the scene at age 54.
The Cosby Show alum, who is survived by his wife and daughter, had been vacationing in Costa Rica.
According to León, both Warner and his daughter were caught in a rip current when the drowning accident occurred, with one of the bystanders able to get the actor’s daughter back to land safely.
“Obviously, as a father, he fought for his daughter,” León shared, “but the current in that area is very strong, and they couldn’t accomplish the objective.”
The Costa Rican Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) confirmed to Us that Warner’s autopsy was completed on Tuesday, July 22. His cause of death was “asphyxia due to submersion.” It was ruled accidental.
After becoming a household name in the 80s, Malcolm-Jamal Warner continued to entertain countless viewers until his final days. Warner got his big break while playing Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show, which aired from 1984 to 1992. His portrayal of the character earned him an Emmy nomination in 1986. After the sitcom wrapped after […]
One day later, Warner’s body was released to his family, a representative for OIJ confirmed to Us. The body is expected to be collected by a funeral home contracted and authorized by the family.
The shock of the accident still lingers with those who risked their lives to save others.
“The people who take part in this kind of rescue are always deeply affected,” the doctor told Us. “You have to understand it’s not easy, and it also takes time to heal.”
