(ReclaimingAmerica.net) – A horrific tragedy took place in Hawaii as two young parents of an 18-month-old boy and an unborn baby girl drowned while vacationing on the island.
According to local fire officials and their families, Ilya and Sophia Tsaruk were from Washington and died off the coast of Maui.
After rescuers responded to a call about “swimmers/snorkelers in distress” at Ahihi-Kinau Natural Area Reserve just after noon, they later fled to the scene.
Shortly after, they located Sophia, who was pregnant with their second child but was found unresponsive in the water.
Moreover, firefighters brought the 26-year-old mother to shore and attempted CPR. It was then they learned her husband was still in the water while emergency responders went back to search for him.
25-year-old Ilya was later found submerged about 100 to 150 yards from the shore. Like his wife, rescuers brought him to land and began CPR.
However, neither of them responded. The Maui County Fire Department reported that both were pronounced dead at the scene, including their unborn child.
The couple leaves behind their 18-month-old son, Logan, who had been staying with family while his parents were away.
“Ilya and Sophia both loved the Lord and were always serving in the church and serving people around them,” wrote Andrey Tupikov, who organized the GoFundMe campaign.
She added, “Sophia had the voice of an angel, and together with Ilya, they sang in a worship group in their church.”
By Tuesday evening, donations had surpassed the $100,000 goal by more than $6,000, while funds raised will help transport Ilya and Sophia’s bodies back to Washington.
“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, and may God help us all to love and serve one another as Ilya and Sophia served,” Tupikov added.
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