Overview

• An autopsy confirmed the 54-year-old actor died of asphyxiation by submersion in a rip current at Playa Grande on July 20.
• Surfers and a volunteer lifeguard pulled Warner and his eight-year-old daughter from the water before Costa Rica’s Red Cross attempted resuscitation.
• No professional lifeguards were on duty, as the volunteer Caribbean Guard had redeployed its limited personnel to other beaches after recent incidents.
• Playa Grande is notorious for its strong currents and features warning signs in English and Spanish to alert swimmers to hazardous conditions.
• The Caribbean Guard has appealed to national and local authorities for increased funding and clearer beach safety policies to strengthen patrols.