Tragic Drowning of Indian Singer Zubeen Garg: What Happened on Lazarus Island?
Incident Overview
Singapore: Renowned Indian singer-songwriter Zubeen Garg tragically drowned off Lazarus Island after refusing a life jacket, as revealed in a coroner's court hearing on Wednesday.
The 52-year-old artist was attending a yacht party on September 19, 2025, just a day before he was scheduled to perform at the North East India Festival in Singapore.
Initially, Garg wore a life jacket but later took it off and declined a second one offered to him, according to the chief investigating officer's testimony during the inquiry, as reported by Channel News Asia.
Witnesses noted that Garg, who was heavily intoxicated, attempted to swim back to the yacht but became unresponsive and floated face down in the water.
He was quickly rescued and CPR was administered, but unfortunately, he was declared dead later that day.
The court learned that Garg had a history of hypertension and epilepsy, with his last seizure occurring in 2024. However, it remains uncertain if he took his epilepsy medication on the day of the incident, as eyewitness accounts did not confirm this.
Authorities have ruled out foul play in his death, according to the report.
The inquiry is set to hear from 35 witnesses, including those on the yacht, the boat captain, police officers, and paramedics.
The chief investigating officer stated that Garg and approximately 20 others on the yacht consumed snacks and alcoholic beverages.
Several witnesses reported seeing Garg drinking, with one noting he had several cups of liquor, gin, and whisky, along with some Guinness Stout.
The officer provided a detailed account of the day's events, explaining that Garg removed his life jacket during his first swim and later expressed fatigue after returning to the yacht.
When he decided to swim again, he declined a smaller life jacket and entered the water unprotected, heading towards Lazarus Island alone.
An autopsy confirmed drowning as the cause of death, with some injuries attributed to CPR and rescue attempts.
Tests revealed medications for hypertension and epilepsy in his system, but no other drugs were found.
A toxicology report indicated Garg had a blood alcohol level of 333 milligrams per 100 millilitres, indicating severe intoxication, while the legal limit in Singapore is 80 milligrams.
Witnesses also described Garg's irregular sleeping patterns, and statements confirmed he had no suicidal tendencies and voluntarily jumped into the water.
The forensic pathologist noted that there were no signs of a seizure, such as a bitten tongue.
The yacht captain testified that he saw two of Garg's friends assisting him as he boarded due to his inability to walk properly.
The captain, who communicated through a Mandarin interpreter, mentioned that some passengers had started drinking before boarding the yacht.
He stated that he had conducted two safety briefings and warned Garg's friends about his drunken state when he entered the water without a life jacket.
The captain recounted how he quickly swam to Garg when he noticed him face down in the water, and upon turning his head, he observed foam coming from Garg's mouth and nose.
Before the inquiry commenced, Garg's uncle, Manoj Kumar Borthakur, expressed concerns regarding the circumstances surrounding the singer's death.
In response to his uncle's inquiries about the events of that day, State Coroner Adam Nakhoda indicated that some of the questions were not pertinent to the case.