February 12th 2025.
The news of Glee star Naya Rivera's tragic death in 2020 sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry and left her loved ones and fans devastated. And now, for the first time since her passing, her ex-husband Ryan Dorsey has opened up about her final moments and their son's experience of the accident.
It was on July 8th, 2020, that Naya and her four-year-old son Josey embarked on a boating trip at Lake Piru, a popular destination for water activities in California. However, what was meant to be a fun day out turned into a nightmare when four hours later, Josey was found alone and asleep on the boat, wearing a lifejacket. Naya, unfortunately, was nowhere to be found.
The news of the 33-year-old actress' disappearance sparked an urgent search and rescue operation, but tragically, her body was discovered five days later in the water. Her death was ruled as accidental drowning, leaving Ryan and Josey to grapple with the devastating loss.
Since then, Ryan has been raising Josey as a single parent and, in the aftermath of the tragedy, Naya's family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the authorities. They have since settled privately for an undisclosed amount.
Now, after almost a year, Ryan has finally opened up about his and Josey's life in the aftermath of the horrific tragedy. In an emotional interview with People Magazine, he shared the heartbreaking details of his son's final moments with his mother.
It's been speculated that a strong current carried the boat away from Naya and Josey, leaving them stranded. Ryan revealed that Josey told him that the last thing Naya said was his name before she went under the water. He also admitted that it breaks his heart that his son had to witness her final moments.
The incident has left Josey traumatised, and Ryan says he treats his son differently because of all he has been through. However, he is a happy and friendly child, and Ryan strives to keep his son's life as normal as possible. He shared that Josey often talks about trying to find a life raft and a rope but being too scared because of a spider on it. Ryan reassures his son that there was nothing he could have done to save his mother.
Ryan went on to speculate about the cause of the drowning, suggesting it could have been a freak current or Naya getting tangled in brush. But regardless, he is certain that there was nothing his son could have done to prevent it.
In the rest of the interview, Ryan opened up about the challenges of being a single parent and their move from LA to West Virginia due to financial struggles. He is still auditioning for acting roles but says that Josey is his priority. Despite the difficulties, Ryan remains hopeful for a better future for himself and his son, where they can keep Naya's memory alive.
Ryan and Naya had a close but tumultuous relationship. They met in 2010 when Naya's Glee co-star, Heather Morris, introduced them at a bar. They got married in 2014 and welcomed Josey a year later. However, their marriage ended in divorce in 2018, but they remained on good terms as they co-parented Josey.
This heartbreaking tragedy has left a void in many lives, but Ryan is determined to keep Naya's memory alive in Josey's life. And as he continues to navigate single parenthood and heal from the loss, he is grateful for the support and love they have received from fans and loved ones.
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