Looking for Naya Rivera in Lake California 0:59
(CNN) –– Naya Rivera, a Glee actress, is presumed dead after she disappeared into a lake in southern California, according to the Ventura County Sheriff's Office.
"We are assuming that an accident occurred and we are presuming that she drowned in the lake," Chris Dyer, an official with the Ventura Sheriff's Office, reported during a press conference Thursday.
- LOOK: The tragedies that have marked the cast of 'Glee': Cory Monteith and Mark Salling died, Naya Rivera is missing
Search and rescue efforts for the actress have now switched to a recovery operation, Dyer said.
"The goal continues to be to bring Miss Rivera home with her family," he added.
Rivera, 33, disappeared from Piru Lake on Wednesday night. She arrived at the lake on the afternoon of that day and rented a boat with her 4-year-old son, according to authorities.
Dyer said Thursday that the boat was late in its arrival time around 4 pm local time. A rental clerk found the boat at the north end of Piru Lake.
The official added that Rivera's son was in the boat, but she was nowhere to be found. Search efforts began immediately and lasted until 10 p.m. Wednesday.
- READ: Who is Naya Rivera? The 'Glee' actress disappeared into a lake
Another spokesperson for the Ventura County Sheriff's Office, Capt. Eric Bushow, previously said that the boy and his mother went swimming and that she did not return to the boat. Bushow added that the minor was wearing a life jacket and that another adult life jacket was found in the boat.
The boy is healthy and with family, Dyer reported Thursday morning. CNN has contacted Rivera's representatives for more details.
Authorities resumed the search Thursday morning, and the lake has been closed during the operation, which involves more than 80 people, the Sheriff's Office reported on Twitter.
Rivera played Santana López on the Fox show for six years since 2009, and appeared in almost every episode of the musical-comedy-drama. She was also in the CBS comedy "The Royal Family" and in the movie "The Master of Disguise".
Several celebrities, including her "Glee" co-star Harry Shum Jr., shared their concerns about the situation on social media.
Actress Jackée Harry tweeted a scene she shared with Rivera in the comedy "The Royal Family," which was Rivera's first acting job at the age of 4.
Prayers up for the lovely Naya Rivera. 🙏🙏
We starred alongside one another in her first very television series, The Royal Family, and I've watched her career blossom ever since. Please God, don't cut this life short. pic.twitter.com/8fRDuuh3oK
- Jackée Harry (@JackeeHarry) July 9, 2020
Praying.
- Harry Shum Jr (@HarryShumJr) July 9, 2020
The story about @NayaRivera is the most horrifying thing I have read about in a while. My heart goes out to her family. What a terrible trauma….
- Bethenny Frankel (@Bethenny) July 9, 2020
"Prayers for the lovely Naya Rivera," wrote Harry on Twitter. “We starred side by side in his first television series, The Royal Family, and I've seen his career flourish ever since. Please, God, don't cut this life, "he added.
Zack Teperman, who described himself as Rivera's former advertiser, said he was surprised by the news of his disappearance.
"I still can't believe what I hear and I hope it isn't true," he posted on social media. "I'm sad. Naya Rivera was one of the first people I had the honor of working with in 2009 when I entered public relations and moved to Hollywood. One of the first people to allow me to give her advice and guide her through those crazy Glee days, ”she wrote.
Rivera was married to actor Ryan Dorsey.
DisappearanceNaya Rivera