Naya Rivera: Glee’s Kevin McHale says Cory Monteith ‘helped’ find missing co-star in touching tribute

Rivera was found on the same date Monteith died in 2013

Kevin McHale has said he believes Cory Monteith “helped” find Naya Rivera, in a touching tribute to his two former co-stars.

The Glee alum paid tribute to Monteith and Rivera in a tweet on Monday, after Rivera’s body was located at Lake Piru, California, where she had gone missing days prior.

Monteith died on 13 July 2013 of a toxic combination of heroin and alcohol. Rivera’s body was found seven years later, also on 13 July.

McHale shared an archive clip of Monteith and Rivera both interacting with Glee fans, stopping for autographs and hugs.

“I’m not religious by any means, but you’d be hard-pressed to convince me that Cory didn’t help find our girl today,” the actor, who portrayed Artie Abrams in the show, wrote.

He added of Monteith and Rivera: “These two, in many ways, were the male and female versions of one another.

“So nice, cared deeply, were stupidly talented, the most fun, and really really good people.”

The discovery of Rivera’s body came on day six of an extensive search at Lake Piru, where she went missing on 8 July after renting a pontoon boat with her four-year-old son.

The boy was found asleep and wearing a life vest on the vessel.

Ventura County Sheriff Bill Ayub said during a news conference on Monday that Rivera, 33, “must have mustered enough energy to get her son back on the boat, but not enough to save herself”.

Authorities believe Rivera’s death was the result of an accident. A post-mortem examination will be conducted.