Overview
- Victoria Zardoya, a 20-year-old University of Tampa student, suffered a fall while exploring the Fort Dade ruins on Egmont Key and was transported by boat and later airlifted for emergency care before she died two days after the incident on July 26.
- The District 12 Medical Examiner’s Office completed the autopsy on August 3 and identified craniocerebral trauma as the cause of death, officially ruling the death an accident.
- Zardoya’s organs were donated after her death, a process that postponed the autopsy and was reported to have saved multiple lives.
- Friends on scene say they attempted immediate rescue, used flares to guide responders to the remote island location, and kept Zardoya comforted until emergency crews arrived.
- Family and close friends have issued public tributes, including Milania Giudice getting a 'Baby V' wrist tattoo, and the case highlights both the risks of exploring isolated historic sites and how organ donation can affect postmortem procedures.