Naya Rivera’s former co-stars of the hit series Glee were seen praying at Lake Piru mourning the loss of their beloved friend. The body of the 33-years-old actress, best known for her role as Santana Lopez, was found on July 13. She died from what officials believe was a drowning.

“They were down there by the edge of the lake and prayed for about a half hour. … I did not go down there and stand with them, so I don’t know what they did or said other than they had expressed a desire to go down there and have a prayer” says Captain Eric Buschow.

“As they were praying, we got a call that the body was discovered on the surface of the lake,” Buschow added. “We didn’t tell them because anytime we — in the case of a death, we don’t want people to find out from other sources or from the media. We want the family to be notified officially. We don’t want them to learn about it on the news.”

The harrowing event started on July 8 when Rivera rented a pontoon boat. That afternoon, she decided to go swimming with her 4-year-old son, Josey Dorsey in Los Angeles, California.

According to KTLA5, “The pair headed toward the northern portion of the lake, and officials were able to identify the specific areas the mother and son visited based on shoreline features that were in the background of FaceTime videos from when Rivera chatted with relatives.”

After this, both Rivera and Dorsey went out for a swim. Dorsey recalls Rivera helping him into the boat, but remembers his mother disappearing into the water. Dorsey was later found asleep on the boat by himself by a leasing agent after the boat wasn’t returned during the 3-hour leasing stage.

Officials were called and they began an aerial search for Rivera. Deputies, helicopters, and boat crews all went on a hunt to find Rivera.

Some of her former fellow cast members shared their reactions and thoughts on social media regarding the accident.

Kevin McHale, who played Artie on Glee, asked for compassion for her family in a message to Twitter.

“I cannot begin to understand what Naya’s family must be feeling. I know the rest of us are completely shattered, but not without hope. Please respect her family & their privacy at this moment.”

I cannot begin to understand what Naya’s family must be feeling. I know the rest of us are completely shattered, but not without hope. Please respect her family & their privacy in this moment. Please refrain from judging those who don’t show their pain on social media. ♥️ https://t.co/DXsUj3qdCh

— Kevin McHale (@druidDUDE) July 12, 2020

“Rest sweet, Naya. What a force you were. Love and peace to your family” tweeted Jane Lynch who played cheerleading Coach Sue Sylvestor.

Rest sweet, Naya. What a force you were. Love and peace to your family.

— Jane Lynch (@janemarielynch) July 13, 2020

Chris Colfur, also posted a picture with a moving caption 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,” Colfer wrote. “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.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CCmPW-Oje1q/

(Photo by CHRIS DELMAS/AFP via Getty Images)