TAMPA, FL — A 20-year-old University of Tampa student has died after falling from a historic structure on Egmont Key while visiting the island with friends, according to multiple reports.
Egmont Key, located at the mouth of Tampa Bay and accessible only by boat, is home to the historic Fort Dade military installation.
Victoria Zardoya suffered critical injuries after falling from the historic ruins at Fort Dade on Friday, Fox 13 News said. She was airlifted to a hospital, where she died two days later.
Zardoya is also known as a close friend of Milania Giudice, daughter of "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" star Teresa Giudice, People said.
According to an Instagram statement shared by Victoria Silberbusch at the request of Zardoya's family, the group was exploring the historic Fort Dade ruins when the accident occurred.
"At first, we thought Victoria had fallen only one level," Silberbusch wrote in the post. "We ran to the edge, calling out to her, but quickly realized she had fallen much farther than we first believed."
Silberbusch said friends immediately climbed down to reach Zardoya while others called 911. Those who remained at the boats launched emergency flares to help first responders locate the group more quickly.
She described Zardoya's injuries as "brutal" and said everyone present "did everything they possibly could to help."
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