Pictured: Julia Boiko, 29, who drowned on Thursday after going for a swim in rough surf at a Gold Coast beach
A fundraiser that brought in nearly $30,000 to help pay the funeral costs of a personal trainer who drowned during a late-night swim has been suddenly suspended over plans to send her body home to Russia.
The lifeless body of Ukrainian national Julia Boiko, 29, washed ashore at Kurrawa Beach on the Gold Coast about 10.30pm last Thursday after she dived into the waves about an hour earlier with British gym manager Jake Jacobs, 32.
Mr Jacobs’ body was pulled from the surf by TV weather presenter Luke Bradnam – who had been reporting on the dangerous swells at nearby Narrowneck.
Close friend Helena Santi and the fitness instructor’s best friend from Melbourne Iana Burova set up a Go Fund Me page to help fly Ms Boiko’s ashes home.
Ms Santi said the website told her it was believed she ‘may be raising funds for a cause that is in or connected to a location currently facing sanctions by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the US Department of the Treasury’.
Crimea is at the centre of diplomatic tension between the US and Russia after the latter annexed the region in 2014.
The Obama administration imposed economic sanctions against Russia after the annexation, claiming the move was illegal and a form of aggression.
Ukrainian national Julia Boiko, 29, pictured with British gym manager Jake Jacobs, 32. The pair – pictured together above – drowned after going for a late-night swim together
Pictured: Julia Boiko. The personal trainer was swimming in dangerous surf when she drowned
Ms Boiko was working in Melbourne at the time of her death but her grieving mother lives in the Crimea.
After attracting tens of thousands of dollars in donations in a matter of days, Ms Santi said GoFundMe e-mailed her to tell her the fundraiser had been suspended.
In a Facebook post, Ms Santi said when probed further GoFundMe told her the fundraiser constituted ‘prohibited conduct’ under the platform’s policies.
A GoFundMe spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia the page was removed for a breach of the website’s terms of service but refused to comment further.
The friend earlier explained the personal trainer had no family in Australia, but that the ‘kind soul’ had made many friends across the east coast throughout her six years Down Under.
‘Julia was one of those people who is full of life – you always knew when she walked in the room. I don’t think she had a bad word to say about anyone,’ she said.
Her friend Helena Santi said Ms Boiko (pictured) was one of the kindest people she had ever met
The mother-of-one and her partner Gav Correa met Ms Boiko when she moved to the Gold Coast three months ago and the three of them became friends almost immediately.
Ms Boiko became the couple’s personal trainer and would arrive at their apartment on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays every week to train after their infant daughter went to sleep.
The couple last saw their friend on Wednesday – the day before she vanished.
‘We were just shocked,’ Ms Santi said. ‘I also do photography and I was supposed to do a shoot with her for her new personal training website, and it never happened.’
‘Julia was one of those people who is full of life – you always knew when she walked in the room. I don’t think she had a bad word to say about anyone,’ Helena Santi (pictured) said
Ms Boiko (pictured) had many friends in Melbourne and on the Gold Coast, but had no family in Australia
‘She had so many plans that will never happen.’
After Mr Jacob’s body was pulled from the surf, Queensland Surf Lifesaving authorities closed ten beaches along the coast and warned swimmers not to go into the water.
Upon seeing the dead body floating in the ocean, TV weather presenter Luke Bradnam – who was reporting on the dangerous swells at Narrowneck – stripped off his suit and dived in.
Earlier reports claimed the pair were skinny dipping, with the 32-year-old local’s car found at the scene decorated with a ‘Get Naked Australia’ sticker.
British national Jake Jacobs, 32, was last seen entering the surf at Kurrawa Beach, Broadbeach – on the Gold Coast – about 9.20pm on Thursday night
A memorial for Ms Boiko (pictured) was held in Melbourne on Monday. Her body was cremated
His pile of discarded clothes were also found on the beach.
Ms Santi said her friend was adventurous but sensible and found it difficult to believe she plunged into the very dangerous surf.
She also said the pair barely knew each other.
‘I think they had met three or four times – they did sound meditation together, but they didn’t know each other well,’ she said.
Ms Santi said her friend (pictured) was adventurous, but sensible, and found it difficult to believe she plunged into the very dangerous surf
During the search for the missing pair, acting Inspector John Diggle told the Courier Mail they ‘didn’t expect to find anyone alive’.
He described the conditions as ‘appalling’ with huge swells of up to 1.8m.
The ocean was so rough that two officers suffered multiple injuries after they were thrown from the rescue boat.
One of the officers in his 30s suffered rib, facial and back injuries, and an officer in his 40s sustained rib and facial injuries.
Ms Santi was so horrified by the incident she said that she sometimes finds herself in tears.
During the search for the missing pair, acting Inspector John Diggle told the Courier Mail they ‘didn’t expect to find anyone alive’. Pictured: Ms Boiko, who was found dead
Ms Santi was so horrified by the incident she said that she sometimes finds herself in tears (Ms Boiko pictured)
‘I’m bursting into tears int he middle of the shop because it was so unexpected,’ she said.
‘I do believe there are plenty of good people in this world, but she was really different – literally, no negative thoughts – sincere and genuine. She was the kindest. The world needs people like that.’
‘Julia was one of these incredible rare people who just shines from inside, bright and incredibly kind,’ Ms Santi wrote on the fundraiser page.
Ms Boiko’s mother gave her friends permission to cremate her body in Australia and would like to give all her Australian friends the opportunity to say goodbye at a service held in Melbourne
‘This horrible tragedy literally happened the day after we saw each other. I loved her with all my heart.’
Ms Boiko’s mother gave her friends permission to cremate her body in Australia and would like to give all her Australian friends the opportunity to say goodbye at a service held in Melbourne.
Ms Santi had urged people to forego their morning coffee to help fund the funeral service, cremation, and to help ship her belongings to her family.
‘After we pay all funeral, transportation expenses we will send the rest of the money to Julia’s mother,’ Ms Santi wrote.
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