Milania Giudice's Best Friend Victoria Zardoya Died in Tragic Fall at Florida's Fort Dade Ruins - E! News

What the report says

E! News reported new details on the death of Victoria Zardoya, the 20-year-old childhood best friend of Milania Giudice, after an accident during a trip in the Tampa, Florida, area. According to the outlet, friend Victoria Silberbusch posted a statement on Instagram on July 26 that she said was shared at Zardoya’s family’s request; Milania Giudice also reposted it to her Instagram Story.

Silberbusch said Zardoya was with a group visiting the Fort Dade ruins on Egmont Key on July 24 when she suffered fatal injuries in a fall as they were preparing to leave the site. The statement described friends calling emergency services, attempting to reach and comfort Zardoya, and using flares from a nearby boat to guide responders. E! reported that paramedics arrived by boat and that Zardoya was later transported by medical helicopter.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to E! News in a July 28 statement that its Marine Unit responded July 24 to a report that someone had fallen from a structure on Egmont Key. The office said Zardoya was airlifted to a local hospital in critical condition and was pronounced dead on July 27.

The incident drew public attention because of Zardoya’s close relationship with Milania Giudice, daughter of “Real Housewives of New Jersey” figures Teresa and Joe Giudice. E! also noted that Joe Giudice had publicly mourned Zardoya, describing her as part of the family. Egmont Key is a historic island site in the Tampa Bay area, and the reported accident involved ruins associated with Fort Dade.