A man who attempted to save Malcolm-Jamal Warner was left very ill

A man is in critical condition following the drowning incident involving Malcolm-Jamal Warner, as he was attempting to rescue him.

The 54-year-old actor passed away after being caught in a rip current at a beach in Costa Rica over the weekend. Another unnamed man, who sustained injuries during the incident, was a Good Samaritan who noticed Warner in distress and attempted to rescue him.

The Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) informed PEOPLE in a statement: “The victim seems to have entered the sea and was reportedly carried away by a current.” A group of bystanders rescued the man and brought him to shore, where he received medical treatment from the Costa Rican Red Cross. Nevertheless, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

A representative from the OIJ verified to PEOPLE that the second victim “entered [the water] to assist Mr. Warner.”

The spokesperson stated that the individual had no personal ties to Warner, but observed him from the beach and attempted to assist.

According to NBC News, Warner, an actor from The Cosby Show, was on vacation with his wife and daughter when the accident occurred.

The OIJ confirmed that Warner’s autopsy revealed he died from accidental asphyxiation due to submersion.

It stated: “The body will be taken from the Judicial Morgue by a funeral service company engaged by Mr. Warner’s family.”

In the meantime, tributes to Malcolm flooded in from the entertainment industry, with his 9-1-1 co-star Jennifer Love Hewitt expressing that the tragedy “hurts my heart.”

She expressed on social media: “This pains my heart.” A true gentleman, an extraordinary talent, and we were incredibly fortunate to have him as part of the 9-1-1 family. Devastated and extending heartfelt condolences to his family.

Comedian Sherri Shepherd referred to Malcolm as “one of the most grounded people I’ve met in our business” following their collaboration on the TV series Sherri.

She remarked, “Having grown up on television, Malcolm has always been one of the most down-to-earth individuals I’ve encountered in our industry.” Knowing Malcolm meant recognizing a renaissance man who embodied humor, grace, humility, and a profound appreciation for culture. He was simply a great person!

“His passing is a significant loss to the Hollywood community. He took great pride in being a girl dad and cherished his daughter deeply. My heart goes out to his family, friends, and all who cherished him.