Heartbreaking Details of Naya Rivera’s Last Moments Revealed by Ex Ryan Dorsey

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As a movie enthusiast, I can’t even begin to imagine the heartache of losing a parent. But to lose one right before your very eyes… it’s a tragedy beyond words. On July 8, 2020, actress Naya Rivera from Glee tragically drowned at the age of 33 while swimming with her four-year-old son Josey. Heartbreakingly, she sacrificed herself to ensure his safety as they were on a rental boat that started drifting due to strong winds.

In the years since, Naya’s ex and Josey’s father, Ryan Dorsey, has been mostly silent about what happened that fateful day. However, recently he shared with us what their son remembered of his mother’s last moments, nearly five years after they occurred.

Reflecting on my conversation with PEOPLE, I shared a heartfelt account of the fateful day Rivera left us. I recounted the news that reached me and the bits my nine-year-old son has shared over the years since his mother’s untimely demise. On that windy day, Josey felt apprehensive about venturing into the water, but Rivera reassured him with a comforting “Don’t be silly!”. It seemed she didn’t perceive any immediate danger at the time. Yet, as they swam for some time, Rivera noticed that the boat was drifting. As told in a lawsuit filed by me for our son, the boat lacked flotation devices or an anchor.

Later on, Josey remembers his mother instructing him to return to the spot where he had picked up “the diving tanks” and climb aboard the boat by circling around it. Back then, accounts suggested that Rivera may have drowned after struggling to bring her son back onto the vessel, a theory that might still hold water given the circumstances. A following scene that Josey has carried guilt over, as stated by Dorsey, is particularly heart-wrenching because at just four years old, he was still making every effort to aid his mother.

Time and again, he’s emphasized his search for a liferaft, with a rope within reach, but a large spider on it left him frozen with fear, unwilling to take the risk. I continue to console him, ‘Mate, that rope wouldn’t have been long enough anyway.’ The fact that this incident is etched in his memory is understandable because he believes he could have rescued her. I believe she might have gotten tangled in some undergrowth or perhaps a strange current from the dam. It was an unfortunate, unforeseen event.

Josey Revealed Naya Rivera’s Last Words

In this heart-wrenching tale, I found myself reviewing a movie where the protagonist, Josey, was discovered napping on a boat drifting aimlessly in the lake. This vessel had been rented by Rivera just three hours before. The ensuing five days were a frantic search for Rivera, and tragically, her lifeless body was found on July 13th in a secluded part of the watery expanse.

During a poignant interview, Dorsey shared that Josey had revealed Rivera’s final words were nothing more than the name of her son. Dorsey’s voice trembled as he continued, “He said that the last thing she uttered was his name, and then she vanished beneath the waves, and he didn’t see her again. It just shatters my soul to think that he had to bear witness to her final moments.

After Rivera’s funeral, Dorsey and Josey relocated to Dorsey’s hometown of West Virginia for a more secluded life away from the press. Later, they moved back to Los Angeles, where Rivera’s sister Nickayla lived with them for a year – a move that Dorsey described as incredibly beneficial for him and Josey. Dorsey expressed, “She was such a great help. I had to go to Vancouver for five months, and during that time, Josey joined me for the last month. However, while I was away, she managed everything smoothly and consistently. At times, it felt quite strange because she would speak to Josey in a way that resembled his mom.

Naya Rivera gained widespread recognition for playing Santana Lopez on the hit show Glee from 2009 to 2015. The character and the series became staples of pop culture, and they continue to be popular to this day. Her relationship with Dorsey was tumultuous but they always prioritized their son above all else. Following her passing, Rivera has been balancing both parental roles, a task that hasn’t been simple, yet he perseveres.

Instead of creating a memory book for Josey that resides near his bed, we compiled a keepsake filled with memories during the holidays. However, it brought him to tears as he perused it. All one could offer was a comforting embrace and say, “I understand, life isn’t always fair. Terrible events occur without rhyme or reason, leaving us to strive for goodness in our actions. It’s challenging to explain the inexplicable, regardless of age. I don’t subscribe to the belief that everything happens for a purpose because I can never fathom why Josey doesn’t have his mom.

The duo have since settled permanently in West Virginia, a decision that has proven beneficial for them both. Dorsey makes every effort to honor Rivera’s memory for their son, all while striving to be the best father he can be as they jointly face challenging times. Dorsey expressed, “I aim to be the best parent I can be and raise a fine young boy. He provides me with a purpose to carry on with my life.

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2025-02-13 19:02