Naya Rivera used the last ounce of her strength to get her four-year-old son back on their boat and save him from drowning before she died.

The police said there was no reason for them to believe that her death was suicidal based on what they have gathered.

Naya’s body was found in a California lake on Monday, 13th July, five days after she went missing underwater during a trip with her son Josey.

The 33-year-old-actress’ body was found floating near the surface of Lake Piru after a five-day search.

Officials believe she may have been trapped in plants and so hidden from divers that were searching for her.

Bill Ayub, Ventura County Sheriff, said at a news conference on Monday that Naya “must have mustered enough energy to get her son back on the boat, but not enough to save herself.

Her four-year-old-son, Josey, told police his mum “boosted him onto the deck of their rental boat from behind” before he “saw her disappear under the surface of the water” after they had climbed off the back of the boat and gone swimming.

Both mother and son were last pictured arriving at the lake in a black 4×4 vehicle and Naya was seen taking her son from the back seat before walking to the pontoon.

Josey was found sleeping in his life jacket on their boat but there was no trace of the Glee star.

A woman called emergency services after her husband discovered the four-year-old, who they mistook to be a girl.

The police had released a voice recording of the call from the woman

“The emergency is we found a little girl in a boat all by herself and her mum is nowhere to be found,” The woman is heard saying.

Josey told investigators that his mother helped him back aboard but when he looked back he saw her disappear into the water, Sheriff Ayub explained.

On Monday, the Ventura County Sheriff announced that a body had been pulled from the water and while they await an official identification, they are sure the body is Naya’s. 

Sheriff Ayub said ‘while an autopsy and official identification are forthcoming, investigators are “confident” the body is Rivera’s based on the location, physical characteristics and clothing.

According to Ayub, while speaking at a news conference, her body was found in the northeastern portion of the lake – which is 60 ft deep – and an “empty canyon” of growth.

“We believe she was concealed within some of the shrubbery on the floor bed of the lake,” Ayub said, adding that investigators didn’t believe any foul play was involved.

“The boat started drifting… she mustered enough energy to get her son back on the boat but not enough to save herself,” the sheriff told reporters.

Sergeant Kevin Donoghue, Ventura County Sheriff’s Office said that after speaking with Josey, they “have no reason to believe she took her own life”.

ABC7 Eyewitness News shared a heartbreaking image of her loved ones standing hand-in-hand at the dock before the disclosure that a body was found.

Rivera’s family reportedly stood at the edge of the water, holding each other’s hand.

‘Rivera thought of the lake as her “sanctuary”, as she had grown up 20 miles away, despite it being known for rip currents and icy waters that can overpower swimmers’ The sun reported.

She took a photograph of Josey on the boat and sent it to relatives just 90 minutes prior to when Josey was found alone on the boat.