Influencer's ex-wife writes heartbreaking tribute after Covid death
The ex-wife of an Instagram fitness influencer and dad of three who denied the existence of the deadly coronavirus pandemic has written a heartbreaking tribute to her husband after he died from the virus.
Dmitriy Stuzhuk announced last week that he had tested positive after contracting Covid while on holiday in Turkey and returning to his native Ukraine.
Just four days before his death, the 33-year-old posted a photo of himself in hospital wearing an oxygen mask but said he was in stable condition.
He said he woke up on his second day in Turkey with a swollen neck and was struggling to breathe.
A cough started up the next day but he said he believed it “could be the consequence of playing sports”.
“I was one who thought that Covid does not exist… until I got sick,” he said.
“COVID-19 IS NOT A SHORT-LIVED DISEASE! And it is serious.”
His ex-wife, fellow Instagram influencer Sofia Stuzhuk, 25, took to the social media platform on Sunday to reveal his condition deteriorated just hours after he was discharged from the over-crowded hospital.
She later confirmed to her 5.2 million followers that the father of her three kids had died.
“Dima is not longer with us. His heart could not cope,” she posted.
The 25-year-old model paid tribute to Stuzhuk, whom she said she separated from six months ago.
She said that while their relationship had “many problems” they had both gotten “so much out of it”.
“You taught me so much,” Ms Stuzhuk wrote in her native Russian.
“I will for the rest of my life remain grateful to you for our three children.”
Premier Dan Andrews announces changes to coronavirus lockdown
Daniel Andrews lashes federal minister over travel bubble bombshell
Melbourne salon owner calls for lockdown rebellion after $10k fine
She said when she met him she was an “ordinary 19-year-old girl” but during their lives together she learned how to be an independent woman.
“You were with me in the most difficult and most wonderful times of my life.
“You always supported any of my ideas, always listened, listened and tried to understand,” she wrote on Instagram.
“We have six years of full of events behind us. Lots of travel, a lot of emotions.
“It is so tragic to me that you didn’t listen to me when it came to health.
“Now you will be our guardian angel and your love will always protect our little angels.
“How painful that is to realise,” she said.
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.
