Tourist submarine sinks in Egypt with Russian family aboard — officials mistakenly list mother as dead before heart-stopping truth emerges.

It was meant to be a

dream vacation

under the crystal blue waters of the Red Sea. But instead, it ended in

unimaginable heartbreak

. A Russian doctor’s final words to his father—spoken with excitement and love—would soon echo with

devastating finality

.

Dr. Ravil Valiullin

, 40, boarded the Sindbad submarine off the coast of Hurghada, Egypt, with his wife Kristina, 38, and their two young daughters, aged 10 and 15, for what was supposed to be a joyful family excursion on March 21. But within days, a

catastrophic




underwater disaster



would claim his life—and spark a global whirlwind of confusion, grief, and tragedy.

Mothers Misidentified as Dead, Children Caught in Chaos

Initial


reports


from Russian media described an unthinkable scene:

Kristina and Ravil

were both presumed dead in a submersible accident during a sightseeing tour, sending shockwaves through their hometown of Urussu, Tatarstan. The couple, both beloved local doctors, had taken the trip as a long-awaited break—one they would never forget.

“I can neither confirm nor deny,”


said


Liliya Galimova, head of the RT Raisa press service, as the situation descended into frantic uncertainty. “Since we rely on information that comes directly from the scene, from Egypt. As we can see, the information there is constantly changing. Apparently, time is needed. We will wait for clarification.”

Back home in Urussu,

Kristina’s mother

anxiously watched over the family home as the return date of April 1 loomed—with no certainty her daughter and granddaughters would ever return.

A Miraculous Correction—and a Harrowing Loss

Then, in a stunning turn of events, SHOT


reported


that Kristina and her daughters were, in fact,

alive

. The mother of two had been



wrongly listed



among the deceased by Egyptian authorities—but the mistake was rectified.

The same could not be said for her husband.

Dr. Ravil Valiullin

, a respected anesthesiologist-resuscitator, was


confirmed


among the six Russian nationals who perished in the accident. He was just 40 years old.

The submersible carried around 50 people from Russia, India, Norway, and Sweden, officials said. Seven Russian tourists

remain under medical supervision

following the ordeal.

“They Were Gold, Not People!” – Town in Mourning

Urussu is a town in tears. Kristina and Ravil were

admired pillars

of the community. She, a pediatrician known for her warmth. He, a lifesaver in the emergency ward. They were married in medicine, having met in school and

worked side by side

at the same hospital for six years.

“They were gold, not people! They loved each other very much,” their

grief-stricken colleagues



said


, their voices cracking with sorrow.

Ravil’s father also

opened his heart to the press

, sharing what would be their final conversation—a chilling echo of the tragedy to come: “They said they were going on an underwater excursion with the whole family. They wanted to show the children the fish,” he


recalled


.

Marcel Minnullin

,

the Minister of Health of the Republic of Tatarstan

,


called


them “highly qualified specialists” who treated their patients with “professionalism and dignity.” Their loss, he said, was a “great one for both the local community and the region’s healthcare system.”

Inside the Doomed Submarine: Confusion and Chaos

The


tragic incident


was first covered by the BBC, which reported that the submarine—called

Sindbad

, a long-operating tour vessel—sank on the morning of

March 27

, just off the Egyptian resort city of Hurghada.

In its 12:28 p.m. bulletin, the BBC


confirmed


that at least six people were feared dead.

By 12:30 p.m., the vessel had been identified.

Sindbad Submarines

, its operator,

touts

itself as providing “lasting memories through immersive aquatic adventures.”

This time, the memories were marred by

terror and confusion

.

The Mystery Deepens as Conditions Appear Calm

At 3:11 p.m.,


grim images


emerged from the Egyptian Hospital where victims were rushed. Police guarded the facility’s doors, and the sense of urgency hung thick in the air.

Nine were injured

, the BBC said—four critically—but the worst was still unfolding.

Then came an eerie detail. At 3:31 p.m., the BBC

debunked



weather speculation


: no rough seas, no high winds, no cloud cover. Wind was a gentle 5 mph. Waves were less than 0.2 meters.

So

how could a submarine just sink

?

At 3:50 p.m.,


visuals


showed a line of

ambulances and emergency boats

stationed at the harbor. A second Sindbad vessel, eerily untouched, floated nearby—a haunting reminder of what should have been a routine journey.

“We Heard the Ambulance Sirens…” – Tourist Speaks Out

A tourist staying at the nearby

Sindbad Club



told


the BBC, “We heard the ambulance sirens which lasted a long time and there are still at least three ambulances at the harbour [sic].”

Their account matched updates from

Al-Masry Al-Youm

, an Egyptian outlet that


reported


multiple ambulances were dispatched immediately, suggesting the magnitude of

the unfolding crisis

.

Still, no official cause has been revealed.

Calm Seas, Chaos Below: Haunting Images from the Scene

Al-Masry Al-Youm shared a haunting Instagram


video


showing the still waters of the

Red Sea

, boats scattered across the surface near the accident site. Calm on the outside—but beneath,

a scene of heartbreak

.

At 4:10 p.m., the BBC cited

Viktor Voropaev

, Russia’s consul general in Hurghada, who


confirmed


that five Russian nationals, including two children, had died.

That figure differed from earlier reports by the

Russian Embassy in Cairo

, which first said four were killed and all aboard were Russian citizens.

In a

formal




statement



, the embassy clarified that most victims were clients of Biblio Globus, a travel agency. Russian diplomats had arrived at the

Sindbad hotel pier

to assist on-site.

Some survivors were said to be in stable condition, though several identities

remained unconfirmed

. The embassy also cited a higher total of 45 tourists, not 40 as earlier stated.

Official Closure Comes—but Questions Remain

At last, Red Sea Governor

Amr Hanafy

gave an update. In a


statement


shared via Facebook, he said six tourists had died, 39 rescued, and no one remained missing.

A measure of closure, perhaps—but no comfort for families like the Valiullins, whose lives were ripped apart beneath the sea.

And now, all eyes turn to the investigation. What caused a trusted tourist submarine to plunge into tragedy under calm waters?

What do YOU think caused this tragic sinking? Should tourist submarines be banned until safety is guaranteed? Sound off in the comments below!