Naya Rivera’s ex-husband has revealed the heartbreaking reason their son feels guilty he was unable to save his mother from drowning.

Naya Rivera was just 33 when she tragically drowned. Credit: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Point Honors

The Glee star died at the age of 33 on July 8, 2020, while on a boat in Lake Piru with her on Josey Hollis Dorsey, who was just four years old at the time.

Rivera had been declared missing after the boat was found floating with Josey alone inside, but no sign of his mother.

A search had begun after Rivera had failed to return the boat she’d rented after the allocated time, and a rescue mission was launched when her young son was found alone inside it with his life jacket on.

Her body was found on July 13, with the sheriff suggesting that Rivera and Josey – who’d been swimming at the time – may have found themselves caught in a rip current and struggled to get back to the boat, saying that she likely “mustered enough energy to save her son, but not enough to save herself.”

Four and a half years have passed since her tragic death, but Rivera’s son – now nine – still holds guilt that he couldn’t do more to save her life, according to his dad, Ryan Dorsey.

The 41-year-old explained in a new interview with People: “He said that the last thing she said was his name, and then she went under, and he didn’t see her anymore. It just rocks my world that he had to witness her last moments.”

Revealing how Josey tried to help his mom, Dorsey added: “Something he’s said over and over is that he was trying to find a life raft, and there was a rope, but there was a big spider on the rope, and he was too scared to throw it.

“I keep reassuring him, ‘Buddy, that rope wasn’t going to be long enough.’

“That obviously still sticks out in his head because he feels like he could have saved her. I think she just got caught up in a brush — that or a weird undercurrent from the dam. It was just a freak occurrence.”

Dorsey admitted that he also wonders if things could have been different if he had also been there that day, but admits it would not necessarily have meant a less tragic outcome.

“I probably would have jumped in, and I like to think I would’ve saved the day. But on the other hand, I think maybe something bad could have happened to both of us. I don’t know,” he told the outlet.

The 41-year-old acknowledged how difficult it has been to grieve for Rivera, admitting that he still can’t look at pictures of her.

After he heard the news she was missing, he recalls collapsing at Ralph’s grocery store in Big Bear, before driving 100MPH on the 145-mile journey to Lake Piru to help with the search.

Dorsey called it the “worst five days of my life” as he feared they may never find her body.

Naya Rivera’s body was recovered five days after she disappeared. Credit: Amy Sussman/Getty Images

Lake Piru, a 130ft-deep man-made reservoir, is known for its unpredictable currents and whirlpools, and 26 other people have reportedly drowned in its waters.

Ventura County reached a confidential settlement with Dorsey in 2022 after he filed a wrongful death lawsuit due to the rented boat “not complying with safety standards.”

Attorney Amjad M. Khan wrote in a statement to The Blast at the time: “Through this settlement, Josey will receive just compensation for having to endure the drowning of his beloved mother at Lake Piru.

“Though the tragic loss of Josey’s mother can never truly be overcome, we are very pleased that the monetary settlement will significantly assist Josey with his life beyond this tragedy.”

Josey still feels guilt for being unable to save his mom. Credit: Gregg DeGuire/Getty Images

Dorsey also revealed how he helps Josey grieve for his mother, explaining: “You can only give him a hug and tell him, ‘I know, life is not fair. Bad things happen and there’s no reason for it, and you just have to do your best to be a good person.’

“It’s hard trying to explain things that you can’t really make sense of no matter what age you are.

“I’m not a big believer in everything happens for a reason because I can’t ever think of a reason why he doesn’t have his mom.”