Overview
- Victoria Zardoya, 20, suffered a catastrophic fall while exploring the Fort Dade ruins on Egmont Key and died of her injuries after being hospitalized, with multiple outlets reporting the accident occurred on July 24.
- Friends and witnesses say first responders reached the remote island by boat, a medical helicopter later airlifted Zardoya to a hospital, and those on scene used flares and climbed down ruins to reach her during a difficult rescue.
- Zardoya’s family confirmed she was an organ donor and relatives say her donations will benefit as many as eight recipients as hospital staff prepared an honor walk and cleared her room.
- The Manatee County Medical Examiner’s Office has confirmed the autopsy was delayed because of the organ donation, and some published accounts contain inconsistent timeline details about the exact date of death.
- Public figures and family members including Milania and Teresa Giudice and Zardoya’s twin sister have posted tributes describing Zardoya’s close bonds and the personal impact of the loss on friends and neighbors.