New revelations at a Singapore coroner’s hearing show that Indian singer Zubeen Garg was “severely intoxicated” and declined a life vest before drowning near Lazarus Island in September 2025. Here’s what police testimony revealed.
New details have emerged in the coroner’s inquiry into the death of Indian singer Zubeen Garg, with Singapore police revealing that the popular artist was “severely intoxicated” and had refused to wear a life jacket before he drowned while swimming near Lazarus Island last September.
Assistant Superintendent of Police David Lim, testifying at the hearing, said
Zubeen Garg, 53, had consumed alcohol and declined to wear a life vest before jumping off a yacht during an outing on September 19, 2025, just a day before he was scheduled to perform at the North East India Festival organised by the Assamese community in Singapore, as reported by The Strait Times.
Witnesses told the court that despite repeated reminders from the yacht captain to wear safety gear, Garg entered the water and removed his life jacket because it was “too big for him,” and later refused a smaller one offered to him. He then started swimming toward Lazarus Island without a life vest, even as others on board urged him to turn back.
Police said that
as Garg swam, he suddenly became motionless and was seen floating face down, with witnesses observing froth around his mouth. He was pulled back onto the yacht, where friends attempted resuscitation and called for emergency help, but he was later pronounced dead at Singapore General Hospital.
An autopsy revealed that Garg had a blood alcohol concentration of 333 mg per 100 ml, significantly above Singapore’s drink-driving limit of 80 mg per 100 ml, a factor investigators said would have impaired his coordination and reflexes.
The police also told the
coroner’s court that witnesses reported Garg had no suicidal intentions and was not under duress or coercion before entering the water.
Garg’s death certificate listed the official cause of death as drowning, and earlier statements from Singapore authorities indicated they do not suspect foul play in the incident.
The hearing forms part of a formal inquiry required under Singapore law to establish the circumstances leading to a person’s death, and several other witnesses, including members of the yacht party, are expected to testify as the process continues.
Zubeen Garg, originally from the northeastern Indian state of Assam, was in Singapore for the cultural festival when the tragedy struck.
The 53-year-old’s unexpected death in 2025 sparked widespread shock among fans and led to investigations both in Singapore and India.
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