A young couple from Snohomish, near Seattle, Washington, Ilya Tsaruk, 25, and Sophia Tsaruk, 26, tragically drowned while vacationing in Hawaii, leaving their 18-month-old son, Logan, without parents.
The incident occurred on Saturday near the Ahihi-Kinau Natural Area Reserve in Maui, where the couple was believed to be snorkeling. The Maui Fire Department responded to a distress call about swimmers in trouble. Sophia was expecting a baby girl, as revealed by Andrey Tupikov, who initiated a GoFundMe campaign to cover the family’s funeral costs.
The couple’s 18-month-old son was with relatives at the time of the tragedy. Rescuers found Sophia unresponsive about 100 to 150 yards from shore and pulled her from the water. Ilya was discovered later on the ocean floor. Despite CPR attempts, both were pronounced dead by Emergency Medical Services.
The fire department noted that the surf was calm that day, and the area is not known for dangerous currents. The spot where the couple was swimming was unguarded, with the nearest lifeguard station at Makena State Beach Park.
Chris Stankil, a fire department spokesperson, suggested the couple was snorkeling based on the location but could not confirm this, as the incident report did not mention any equipment found with them.
In a heartfelt tribute, Tupikov described the couple as active church members, with Sophia having an “angel’s voice,” and both singing in a worship group. He expressed the deep grief of both families and their reliance on faith during this difficult time.
The GoFundMe campaign has successfully raised nearly $105,000, surpassing its $100,000 goal. The funds will be used for funeral expenses and to transport the couple’s remains back to Washington.
