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While drowning is not a very common cause of death, a few notable celebrity deaths in recent years have focused attention on the risks of immersion in water. From drug or alcohol-related drownings in bathtubs to accidents in nature, drowning has taken the lives of many public figures.Click through the gallery and remember those who tragically passed away after slipping underwater.

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Ryan Mallet, a 35-year-old ex-NFL player, tragically passed away due to an apparent drowning incident off a beach in Destin, Florida on June 27, 2023. Emergency personnel were summoned to the scene during the afternoon after a cluster of swimmers encountered difficulties in the water. They had been attempting to swim towards a sandbank in the Gulf of Mexico, but faced challenges while struggling to reach the shore.

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After being rescued, it was discovered that one of the swimmers had stopped breathing. He was unfortunately declared dead upon arrival at the hospital and later identified as Ryan Mallet. The White Hall School District, where Mallet worked as a high school football coach, expressed their condolences on their website with a message mourning the loss of Coach Ryan Mallett.

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Whitney Houston, known for her incredible vocal talent, was sadly plagued by personal issues. Her battle with drug addiction had a profound effect on her career and tragically led to her accidental death.

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Houston drowned in a bathtub at a hotel in Beverly Hills on February 11, 2012. Cocaine use and heart disease contributed to her demise.

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Unfortunately, her daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown, passed away in a similar fashion a few years later. Brown was discovered face down in a bathtub at her home in 2015. She stayed in a comatose state for half a year before eventually dying at the young age of 22. Medical investigations revealed the presence of various potent prescription medications in her system, although it could not be ascertained whether her death was accidental or deliberate.

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Actress Mary Mara was discovered deceased in the St. Lawrence River in upstate New York on June 26, 2022. Mara gained fame for portraying Loretta Sweet in the '90s television series 'ER,' and had notable roles on 'Law & Order,' 'Hope & Gloria,' and 'Dexter.'

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The police believe the 61-year-old drowned while swimming. Preliminary reports indicated that she may have sustained a blow to her head, resulting in loss of consciousness. Authorities later confirmed that there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding her death.

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Actress Natalie Wood gained fame portraying Maria in the iconic film 'West Side Story' (1964), and enjoyed a successful career until her mysterious demise in 1981. Wood was enjoying a vacation aboard a yacht in Santa Catalina with her husband, Robert Wagner, and her 'Brainstorm' colleague Christopher Walken.

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Her body was found approximately a mile (1.6 km) away from the yacht, exhibiting severe bruising. Initially, authorities concluded that her injuries were the result of an unfortunate incident where she unintentionally fell from the yacht during the night. Nonetheless, speculation has persisted for many years suggesting that Wood's death was not accidental and that her husband played a role. In 2011, the cause of her death was revised from "accidental drowning" to "drowning and other undetermined factors." In 2018, her husband became a person of interest in the reopened investigation into her demise.

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Jeff Buckley, renowned for his 1994 version of Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah,' tragically perished in an unusual swimming mishap in 1997. At the time only 30 years old, Buckley reportedly entered the Mississippi River on impulse fully clothed for a spontaneous swim.

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Buckley's whereabouts became a concern when he vanished unexpectedly, even with a worried companion watching over him. It is presumed that a passing ship's strong turbulence overpowered Buckley. His lifeless body was eventually recovered several miles away from the site, after six long days. Speculation started to circulate on Buckley's mental state and unsettling conduct prior to the unfortunate incident, casting doubt on the circumstances surrounding his demise.

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Brian Jones, the original front man of the Rolling Stones, was known for his unruliness and surpassed even Keith Richards or Mick Jagger in terms of wild rockstar behavior. However, his excessive drug addiction incapacitated his ability to contribute to the band, resulting in his dismissal in 1969. Tragically, he passed away soon afterwards.

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On July 3, 1969, the 27-year-old was discovered deceased in his personal swimming pool. The cause of death was determined to be "death by misadventure" due to the presence of considerable amounts of drugs and alcohol in the individual's system. Speculation arose regarding the possibility of Jones intentionally ending his own life in response to his dismissal from the band. Other, more extravagant theories propose that the he was the victim of murder by a contractor he owed money to.

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Dennis Wilson, a founding member of the Beach Boys, tragically passed away in 1983 as a result of his long-standing battles with substance abuse. During the festive period, Wilson engaged in reckless behavior and found himself partying on his friend's boat.

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He made the choice to plunge into the icy water in order to retrieve various objects he had earlier discovered on the river bed, items he had discarded into the water while sailing with his former spouse, Karen Lamm (shown in the picture), three years prior. Astoundingly, he succeeded in locating a silver frame enclosing their wedding photograph. He persisted in exploring the waters, but following a critical dive, he did not resurface. His lifeless remains were discovered after a thirty-minute search, and his death was officially declared. He was 39 years old.

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On January 15, 2018, Dolores O'Riordan, the lead singer of The Cranberries, was discovered dead in a London hotel room. The British coroner's office conducted an investigation into her unexpected passing. She was 46 years old.

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O'Riordan was discovered drowned in the bathtub with an elevated blood alcohol level. Numerous empty alcohol bottles were present in her room, alongside the ingestion of prescribed medication. It is speculated that she consumed an excessive amount, leading to her unconsciousness in the water.

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Naya Rivera and her son were swimming near a boat when they were swept away by a rip current. Rivera successfully got her son back on the vessel, but lacked the energy to rescue herself.

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Naya Rivera, known for her role in 'Glee', disappeared on July 8, 2020, following the accident on California's Lake Piru. Four-year-old Josey was discovered alone in the boat, and Rivera's body was discovered by search teams five days later.

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Carol Wayne, a well-known actress in television and film, regularly appeared on 'The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.' Unfortunately, she passed away unexpectedly at 42 years old under mysterious circumstances. A picture of her is shown here in the 1968 movie 'The Party.'

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Wayne and her car salesman boyfriend, Edward Durston, were on vacation at the Las Hadas Resort in Mexico when she went missing. It is believed they were having an argument before Wayne decided to go for a walk on the beach. Her body was discovered in the water by a local fisherman three days later. The authorities concluded that it was an accidental drowning, but alternative theories have emerged.

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The celebrated writer Virginia Woolf experienced episodes of intense depression throughout her life. In 1941, her mental wellbeing deteriorated further when her London residence was destroyed by bombs as World War II continued to ravage Europe. This event rendered her unable to write and consumed her thoughts with mortality.

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On the 28th of March, 1941, Woolf placed stones in her coat pockets and entered the river near her home in the countryside. She left a note for her husband, stating that she was "doing what appears to be the most fitting course of action." It took three weeks for her body to be discovered.

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Harold Holt vanished under mysterious circumstances after serving just two years as Australia's Prime Minister. On December 17, 1967, he went for a swim at his beloved seaside spot, but never returned.

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Harry Holt's clothes were discovered on the beach where he had left them, yet there was no further evidence of his whereabouts. Despite his proficiency as a strong swimmer, it is believed that he may have been swept away by the sea. An expression was coined after his death—to "do a Harry Holt", meaning to abruptly disappear.

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Josef Mengele, a notorious Nazi and associate of Hitler, is remembered for conducting horrific experiments on Auschwitz prisoners. After the war, he evaded trial in Nuremberg and fled to Brazil, where he lived until 1979. His actions remain a haunting chapter in history.

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In 1979, Mengele suffered a stroke while swimming with friends and drowned. He was laid to rest under the assumed name "Wolfgang Gerhard," while the rest of the world remained unaware of his passing. It was not until 1985 after persistent searching that the West German and Israeli governments finally confirmed his death.

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Grigori Rasputin, a self-proclaimed healer and mystic, managed to gain favor with the Russian royal family by promising to aid their son, who suffered from hemophilia. His influence over the Emperor and Empress was so strong that it sparked resentment among numerous officials who felt undermined by his power.

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In 1917, Rasputin narrowly escaped assassination when an effort was made to poison him with cyanide. Although he miraculously survived, his attackers proceeded to shoot him and abandon him, expecting him to perish. To their disbelief, Rasputin not only managed to stay alive but also endured multiple gunshots. In a final attempt, they tied him up and cast him into the frigid Neva River, hoping to drown him.

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Percy Bysshe Shelley, a renowned British poet, was not fully acknowledged for his talent during his lifetime. As a controversial individual, he opted to live in Italy in 1818.

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In 1822, Shelley along with two companions found themselves in a storm while sailing up the coast. Due to their lack of sailing experience, their boat sank, resulting in the tragic demise of all three individuals. Shelley's body was discovered on the shore after 10 days and was subsequently cremated on the beach.

Sources: (E Online) (The Famous People) (Ranker)