Pregnant Mother and Her Husband Drown While Snorkeling in Maui

Mar. 15, 2025

Ahihi-Kinua Nature Reserve in Muai, HI, USA.Photo:Shutterstock

Shutterstock

A husband and wife, who was pregnant with their second child,drowned while vacationingin Maui over the weekend.

The incident happened on Saturday, Sept. 14 at approximately 12:02 p.m., Maui County Fire Departmentconfirmedin a statement on Monday, Sept. 16.

“Maui firefighters and ocean safety personnel responded to the report of swimmers/snorkelers in distress in the area along the north side of Ahihi-Kinau Natural Area Reserve,” the fire department said.

An official aboard a jet ski first located “an unresponsive 26-year-old female” who was pulled from the water and brought back to shore to receive CPR. While arriving firefighters focused their efforts on the woman, the jet ski returned to the water to search for the 25-year-old male the 26-year-old was reportedly with.

According to the Maui County Fire Department, he was found “on the bottom 100-150 yards from shore.”

PEOPLE reached out to the Maui County Fire Department for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

“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,” the Sept. 15 post began.

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The GoFundMe noted that the Tsaruks were expecting another child at the time of their deaths.

Ilya and Sophia are remembered as people who “loved the Lord and were always serving in the church and serving people around them.”

The husband and wife were also members of their church choir.

As of Tuesday, Sept. 17, the GoFundMe had already surpassed its goal of $100,000, which will be used to transport their bodies from Maui and prepare for funeral services. The funerals are scheduled for Sept. 25.

“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," the GoFundMe page reads. “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.”

source: people.com