Body Of Glee Star Naya Rivera Found In Lake Piru

Naya Rivera has died aged 33.

The Glee star was presumed dead after she went missing during a boating trip to Lake Piru, California with her four-year-old son Josey, but now Ventura County Sheriff's Department has confirmed to The Wrap that the body that has been found does belong to the late actress.

At a press conference, Ventura County Sheriff, Bill Ayub, says the Sheriff Office is "confident" the body found is that of Naya's, although formal identification has yet to take place.

He told the media: "Based on the location where the body was found, physical characteristics of the body, clothing found of the body and the physical condition of the body, as well as the absence of any other persons reported in the area, we are confident the body we found is that of Naya Rivera."

He also believes Rivera managed to "muster" enough energy to push her son out of the water but couldn't save herself. "It would be speculation to say at this point. There are a lot of currents on the lake that appear particularly in the afternoon. We believe it was mid-afternoon when she disappeared, the idea perhaps being that the boat started drifting, it was unanchored, and that she mustered enough energy to get her son back onto the boat, but not enough to save herself."

Following the news, the cast of Glee and other stars took to social media to pay tribute to Rivera. Jane Lunch, who played Sue Sylvester in the musical television series, wrote on Twitter of her former co-star: "Rest sweet, Naya. What a force you were. Love and peace to your family (sic)"

Chris Colfer, who starred as Kurt Hummel, wrote on Instagram: "How can you convey all your love and respect for someone in one post? How can you summarize a decade of friendship and laughter with words alone? If you were friends with Naya Rivera, you simply can’t. Her brilliance and humor were unmatched. Her beauty and talent were otherworldly. She spoke truth to power with poise and fearlessness. She could turn a bad day into a great day with a single remark. She inspired and uplifted people without even trying. Being close to her was both a badge of honor and a suit of armor. Naya was truly one of a kind, and she always will be."