Last Updated:January 14, 2026, 18:35 IST

Investigators said he initially wore a life jacket but removed it, later declining a second one before swimming alone towards Lazarus Island.

Toxicology reports showed a blood alcohol concentration far above Singapore’s legal limit, with witnesses telling the inquiry that the singer Zubeen Garg had consumed multiple alcoholic drinks before entering the water. (IMAGE: PTI)

Popular Indian singer-songwriter Zubeen Garg was “severely intoxicated” when he drowned while swimming near Lazarus Island in Singapore in September 2025, a police investigator told a coroner’s court on January 14, according to reports by The Straits Times and PTI.

Assistant Superintendent of Police David Lim, from the Police Coast Guard, testified that Garg had consumed alcohol and refused to wear a life jacket before entering the water from a yacht on September 19, 2025. Garg, who was in Singapore to perform at the North East India Festival the following day, later became motionless and was seen floating face down as his friends tried to persuade him to swim back to the vessel, The Straits Times reported.

Garg was pulled back onto the yacht, where cardiopulmonary resuscitation was administered. He was taken to Singapore General Hospital and pronounced dead later that day. The cause of death was determined to be drowning.

The court heard that toxicology tests found Garg had a blood alcohol concentration of 333 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood, more than four times Singapore’s legal limit of 80 mg per 100 ml, a level doctors said would impair coordination and reflexes. Witnesses told investigators that Garg was visibly unsteady, with friends holding his arms as he boarded the yacht and that he continued to walk unsteadily on board.

According to testimony, the yacht departed Marina at Keppel Bay at around 2 pm and reached waters near Lazarus Island by about 2.30 pm. Garg initially wore a life jacket and entered the water, but later removed it, saying it was too large. After returning to the yacht, breathing heavily and needing assistance to climb aboard, he decided to swim again. A smaller life jacket was offered, but he declined to wear it and entered the water alone, The Straits Times said.

Witnesses said Garg suddenly went limp and was seen foaming at the mouth before being rescued. A Police Coast Guard vessel reached the yacht within minutes after an emergency call.

Doctors testified that Garg had a history of hypertension and epilepsy, though there were no signs during the autopsy to determine whether he suffered a seizure. Injuries found on his body were consistent with resuscitation efforts. Medications for his conditions were detected in his blood, with no other drugs found.

Investigators told the court there was no evidence of suicidal intent, coercion or foul play. The inquiry, which is examining the circumstances leading to Garg’s death, is expected to hear testimony from 35 witnesses and will continue in February, PTI reported.