Ryan Dorsey, Naya Rivera’s ex-boyfriend, has shared details about the tragic day she passed away for the first time. In an interview with People, the 41-year-old actor revealed that the last words Rivera spoke were her son’s name before she went under the water and was no longer seen. The Glee actress, who was 33 at the time, drowned in a California lake in July 2020 while swimming with her young son, Josey.
At the time, Josey was just four years old and told authorities that his mother had helped him onto the boat after it had drifted away. Local police believe that after ensuring her son’s safety, Rivera lacked the strength to save herself. Dorsey mentioned that Josey expressed fear about entering the water, to which Rivera reassured him, saying, “don’t be silly!”
Dorsey recounted that Josey repeatedly mentioned trying to find a life raft and being scared of a spider on the rope, which prevented him from using it. Dorsey comforted his son, explaining that the rope wouldn’t have been long enough to help.
Dorsey learned of Rivera’s disappearance when he received a call from her stepfather while he was at a supermarket. He described the moment as devastating, saying he collapsed onto a pallet of drinks, fearing the worst. He immediately drove 145 miles to Lake Piru, where Rivera and Josey had been swimming, driving recklessly and chain-smoking out of distress.
Reflecting on the tragedy, Dorsey expressed disbelief at Rivera’s passing, stating that it still feels surreal every day.
