How Josey Tried To Save Her

Ryan Dorsey is opening up in regards to the devastating lack of Naya Rivera, revealing new particulars in regards to the day the “Glee” star tragically drowned at age 33 on July 8, 2020.

Naya Rivera was on a boating journey along with her then 4-year-old son, Josey, at Lake Piru in Ventura County, California. In line with reviews and later confirmed by Josey’s account, the 2 went for a swim within the lake.

Sooner or later, Naya Rivera helped Josey again onto the boat, however she was unable to tug herself up.

In his first sit-down interview since Rivera’s passing, Dorsey spoke with PEOPLE Journal about how their son, Josey, now 9, nonetheless carries a deep sense of guilt over what occurred that day at Lake Piru in Ventura County, California. In line with Dorsey, Josey, who was solely 4 years previous on the time, has repeatedly expressed that he tried to assist his mom however was too scared to behave.

“One thing he’s stated time and again is that he was looking for a life raft, and there was a rope, however there was a giant spider on the rope, and he was too scared to throw it,” Dorsey shared. “I preserve reassuring him, ‘Buddy, that rope wasn’t going to be lengthy sufficient.'”

Josey additionally recollects that the wind was sturdy that day, and he initially hesitated to get into the water. Nevertheless, Rivera inspired him, telling him, “Don’t be foolish!”

As they swam, Rivera observed that the boat had begun to float, a vital element that was included within the wrongful loss of life lawsuit Dorsey later filed in opposition to Ventura County, which was settled in 2022. The rental boat lacked an anchor and flotation units, which may have helped stop the tragedy.

Realizing the boat was transferring away, Rivera urged Josey to swim again. The younger boy recalled grabbing onto “the tanks” and pulling himself “across the boat” whereas his mom labored to get him to security.

In line with incident reviews, Rivera finally drowned after exhausting herself serving to Josey again onto the boat.

“He stated that the very last thing she stated was his title, after which she went beneath, and he didn’t see her anymore,” Dorsey stated. “It simply rocks my world that he needed to witness her final moments.”

Dorsey came upon Rivera was lacking via a cellphone name from her mom’s husband. On the time, he was in a Ralph’s grocery store in Massive Bear Lake, California, shopping for provides for a buddy’s birthday barbecue.

“I collapsed right into a pallet of drinks,” Dorsey recalled. “I feared the worst.”

With out hesitation, he raced 145 miles to Lake Piru, determined to achieve his son. “I drove 100-and-something the entire manner with my four-way hazards on, chain-smoking cigarettes, and I don’t even smoke, actually, and simply crying,” he stated. “I simply needed to get to Josey.”

When authorities discovered Josey alone and asleep on the drifting boat, it confirmed everybody’s worst fears. Rivera had disappeared beneath the water three hours earlier, and the seek for her physique had begun.

After 5 days of looking, authorities recovered Rivera’s physique on July 13, 2020, in a distant a part of the lake. “When it occurred, I simply discovered myself shaking my head, like, ‘I am unable to imagine she’s gone,’” Dorsey admitted. “It is nonetheless so surreal day by day.”

Within the years because the tragedy, Dorsey and Josey have labored to navigate life with out Rivera. Two years in the past, they relocated from Los Angeles to West Virginia, the place they’ve constructed a quieter life. Whereas they’ve made strides in therapeutic, the vacations stay particularly troublesome.

“We made this e book of reminiscences for Josey that sits by his mattress, and through the holidays he was crying it,” Dorsey shared. “You may solely give him a hug and inform him, ‘I do know, life will not be honest. Dangerous issues occur and there isn’t any cause for it, and also you simply need to do your finest to be a great particular person.'”

He admits that discovering the correct phrases to clarify the tragedy continues to be a problem.

“It is laborious attempting to clarify issues that you would be able to’t actually make sense of it doesn’t matter what age you’re,” he stated. “I am not a giant believer in all the pieces occurs for a cause as a result of I am unable to ever consider a cause why he would not have his mother.”

Regardless of the ache, Josey stays a vibrant and glad little one, bringing pleasure to these round him.

“He wakes up glad, all vitality,” Dorsey stated. “I’m attempting to be one of the best dad or mum that I will be and lift a great little man. He provides me a cause to maintain going with my life.”

Although the lack of Rivera will all the time be deeply felt, Dorsey continues to honor her reminiscence by elevating Josey with love, resilience, and energy—values that Rivera herself embodied.