Authorities have released more details on Malcolm-Jamal Warner's tragic death.
Warner died on Sunday in Costa Rica while on a family vacation. The Cosby Show favorite is survived why his wife and their eight-year-old daughter.
Warner is said to have been swimming off the coast of Playa Cocles in Limon province when he was caught by a high current.
His unexpected passing has shaken Hollywood, with Adam Sandler being one A-lister's to lead tributes to Warner. The duo starred on The Cosby Show together.
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"I can't believe it," he said of of the actor's death.
Reminiscing about their time on the 80s sitcom together, Sandler went on to tell Entertainment Tonight: "Malcolm was so nice to me when I was on the show. We had such good times together."
Bill Cosby, who played his on-screen father on the show, has also spoken out following his death.
Andrew Wyatt, a representative for Cosby, revealed how the 88-year-old reacted when he heard the news.
Wyatt told TMZ: "When Bill got the call that Warner died on vacation in Costa Rica, it reminded him of being in the studio filming The Cosby Show in January 1997, when he got a call informing him that his son Ennis Cosby was shot dead in a failed robbery attempt."
As his family, friends, and fans come to terms with his devastating death, authorities have released more information on Warner's passing.
In a statement obtained by PEOPLE, the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) said: "The victim appears to have entered the sea and was apparently swept away by a current. The man was rescued by bystanders and taken to shore, where he received treatment from the Costa Rican Red Cross. However, he was declared lifeless at the scene."
A Costa Rican Red Cross spokesperson also told then news outlet that paramedics performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation on Warner for 20 minutes after he was brought back to to shore but he was unable to be saved.
Warner's cause of death was 'asphyxiation by submersion', says Costa Rican National Police.
Following Sunday's fatal incident, the Emmy-nominated actor’s body was taken to the morgue at San Joaquin de Flores for an autopsy, New York Post reports.
Warner earned his Emmy nomination for his portrayal of Theodore Huxtable in The Cosby Show.
He went on to star in popular shows like The Resident, Malcolm & Eddie, and Sons of Anarchy.
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact GrieveWell on (734) 975-0238, or email [email protected].
Topics: Celebrity, Film and TV, News, Hollywood, Adam Sandler
Niamh Shackleton