Add The New York Post on Google Reality TV personality Milania Giudice’s childhood friend, who became “part of her family,” plummeted to her shocking death at a Florida tourist hotspot while exploring ruins of an old fort with her and a group of friends.
Victoria Zardoya, 20, tumbled over the side of historic relics at Fort Dade on Egmont Key off the coast of Tampa Bay — and those nearby initially thought she only fell down one level, according to People.
“At first, we thought Victoria had fallen only one level. We ran to the edge, calling out to her, but quickly realized she had fallen much farther than we first believed,” wrote Victoria Silberbusch, who was vacationing with Giudice and Zardoya, in an Instagram post shared by Giudice.
“We immediately began climbing down to reach her while others called 911.”
Friends desperately launched flares to help first responders identify their location as quickly as possible, according to Silberbusch.
Giudice shared a TikTok video of her and Zardoya sitting on a boat with life jackets on and lightly dancing to music from the July 24 outing.
The area of the fort where Zardoya fell was part of the historic military battery structures located on the island that was established in 1868 during the Spanish-American War.
Emergency responders from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit reached the scene, and a medical helicopter was brought in to transport Zardoya to a nearby hospital.
Milania’s father, Joe Giudice, reflected on how close Zardoya was to the family throughout her childhood:
“We were neighbors for years, and you became part of our family. I can’t believe you’re gone,” he wrote.
“To think that a simple fall while just being young and having fun could take such a beautiful life is heartbreaking. You were only 20 years old, with your whole future ahead of you.”
Other family members, including Teresa, Gia and Audriana Giudice, also shared public condolences describing Zardoya as a young woman who spent so much of her life alongside their family.
The investigation into the incident remains ongoing.
