People have rallied together to raise $160,000 for the family of a pregnant mother and her husband who tragically drowned while vacationing in Hawaii.
Ilya and Sophia Tsaruk, aged 25 and 26 respectively, were vacationing on the island of Maui when the devastating event unfolded.
The couple was reportedly snorkeling near the coast of the Ahihi-Kinau Natural Area Reserve on Saturday, September 14, when they encountered trouble in the water, as reported by Sky News.
Emergency services were called to the scene just after midday following a report of swimmers or snorkelers in distress.
According to local news outlet The Honolulu Star-Advertiser, firefighters and ocean rescue teams responded to the call.
The couple, from Washington state, were vacationing in Hawaii ahead of the birth of their second child, whom they planned to name Melody.
They leave behind their 18-month-old son, who was not with them during the incident.
Emergency responders found Sophia approximately 140 meters from the shore and brought her back to land using a jet ski.
While they attempted CPR, the search continued for Ilya, who was later discovered at the bottom of the ocean.
Both were pronounced dead at the scene despite efforts to revive them.
Family members revealed in an interview with local news outlet KITV that the Tsaruks had been in Hawaii for a "babymoon" with two other couples, including Ilya's brother and his wife.
According to the family, the couple had been wearing full-face snorkel masks during the incident.
"We don't think that she suffocated in the mask," Ilya's brother, Anatoliy Tsaruk, told KITV.
"It might've just played a role in scaring her to panic. Everything is just speculation at this point."
Taisiya Tsaruk, another family member, added: "They were so excited for life and what it was going to bring for them."
Chris Stankil, a spokesperson for the Maui fire department, stated that while the couple was likely snorkeling due to their location, no snorkeling equipment was recovered from the water.
A GoFundMe page has been established in memory of Ilya and Sophia to raise funds for their funeral expenses.
The couple's son, Logan, had been staying with family members at the time and was not with his parents when the incident occurred.
"Yesterday, we lost a dear sister and brother, daughter and son, and beautiful niece, but we know that heaven received and gained the three of them with open arms," Tupikov wrote in both English and Russian.
He continued: "Ilya and Sophia both loved the Lord and were always serving in the church and serving people around them. Sophia had the voice of an angel, and together with Ilya, they sang in a worship group in their church."
Tupikov noted that the funds raised will help cover the costs of transporting the couple’s bodies back to Washington and their funeral arrangements.
He expressed gratitude for the memories they left behind, writing: "We are blessed to have had both of them in our lives and are left now with the sweet memories and moments that we shared together with them. Their serving spirit and warm company will never be forgotten."
At the time of writing, the page has gained just over $160,000 in donations.
A celebration of life service is scheduled for September 26, followed by a burial the next day.
