Tragic history of mum swept into the sea

A mum who drowned after slipping off rocks in front of her horrified family has been identified.

A mum who drowned after slipping off rocks in front of her horrified family has been identified as a Ukrainian who had escaped the war to start a new life in Australia.

Olya Tikhanova, 40, was on a holiday with her husband, Vladyslav, and 14-year-old daughter, Alisa, when she was swept off the rocks while taking a photograph at Salmon Beach, near Esperance in WA.

Ms Tikhanova was on a bucket-list week-long trip with her family before the tragic incident occurred, The West Australian reports.

Ms Tikanova’s husband and daughter tried to help her, but the conditions were too dangerous for them to enter the water.

An online fundraiser was launched less than 24 hours ago to assist Ms Tikanova’s family after the “terrible” tragedy.

Olya Tikhanova died after being swept off rocks at Salmon Beach on Saturday. Picture: Facebook

“Our little light stopped shining and our life became darker. The overflowing stream of kindness, laughter, warmth, love and radiance stopped,” the description read.

“Without a doubt, the people who were touched by her spirit will never forget her. Olya made people around her better, and the memory of her will keep them that way.

“This collection is organised for those who want to help Olya’s family in this difficult time.

“Be appreciative of your loved ones, who give meaning to your life,” it continued.

A social media post sharing the fundraiser in a Facebook community group described her as “someone impossible to forget.”

“Her genuine smile, boundless energy, and love for life touched everyone who had the privilege of knowing her. She left behind a warmth that will always stay with us,” the post read.

Olya Tikhanova was on a holiday with her family before the tragic incident occurred. Picture: Facebook

Ms Tikhanova fled to Australia with her family from Zaporizhzhia, a city in southeast Ukraine, after which she got a job at Perth-based Alloy Steel International.

Ms Tikhanova’s team leader Simone Monaco told The West Australian that he was in disbelief after receiving a call hours after the tragedy from her husband, who also worked at the manufacturing company.

“I wanted to believe I was not understanding him,” he said.

“He told me ‘she’s gone, she was taking a picture (and) she went in the water. ‘I tried to help her, but I realised it was too dangerous and too late’.

“He also had to look after her daughter, so he did the right choice to not jump in.

“He was saying he wasn’t coming to work in January and gosh, you don’t even know what to say.”

Mr Monaco said that Ms Tikhanova was an avid photographer and loved Australian nature.

“When they were escaping (the conflict) they were in emergency centres with no water … it’s a family that suffered a lot and came to Australia to really improve their lives,” Mr Monaco said.

“She really loved it here. (Her husband) can’t go back to Ukraine to see their family because he will have to do military service, and he has to then bring their daughter … it’s very, very hard situation,” he added.

Ms Tikhanova’s death is part of a spate of drowning deaths this summer with 41 people drowning in Australian waterways since December 1.