EGMONT KEY – Twenty-year-old Victoria Zardoya later died after sustaining serious injuries when she fell from the ruins of old Fort Dade on Egmont Key on Friday, July 24.
Several media outlets reported Zardoya died on July 26.
According to Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Public Relations Coordinator Hannah Oliveto, “Victoria Zardoya, 20, was pronounced deceased on July 27, 2026.”
The heavily redacted general offense report provided by the sheriff’s office references an active criminal investigation and states the death investigation is complete. The redacted report provides no additional details.
Egmont Key is a Florida state park located on an island at the mouth of Tampa Bay, about 3 miles off the north end of Anna Maria Island. Egmont Key is only accessible to the public by boat, personal watercraft or the Egmont Key ferry.
Zardoya’s friend, Victoria Silberbusch, shared her firsthand account of the tragedy on her “thevictorianvision” Instagram page. According to her Facebook page, Silberbusch is a real estate agent who lives in Sarasota.
Several media outlets reported Zardoya was a longtime friend of Milania Giudice, the daughter of “Real Housewives of New Jersey” star Teresa Giudice.
In her Instagram post, Silberbusch wrote, “This post is being shared at the request of Victoria Zardoya’s family.
“On July 24, what began as a fun, innocent day on the water with both old and new friends ended in an unimaginable and unexpected tragedy. A beautiful 20-year-old woman named Victoria Zardoya, who had flown to Florida for the weekend to visit friends, sustained fatal injuries due to a devastating fall while we were all exploring the historic ruins at Fort Dade on Egmont Key. We had actually been getting ready to leave and head to another spot when it all happened,” she wrote.
“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. We immediately began climbing down to reach her while others called 911. Friends back at the boats launched flares to help first responders locate us as quickly as possible, and additional calls were made to communicate just how urgent the situation was,” she wrote.
“No one hesitated. Not one person. Every single one of us jumped into immediate action. Every single person responded instinctively. Everyone did everything they possibly could to help. Her injuries from the fall were brutal.
“We stayed with Victoria and held her, trying to make her as comfortable as possible while we waited for first responders to arrive. Paramedics responded by boat, and a medical helicopter was eventually able to transport her to the hospital after an incredibly difficult rescue,” Silberbusch wrote.
SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS REQUESTED
On her Instagram page, Silberbusch shared a form letter to be emailed to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, with the subject: “Urgent safety improvements requested at Fort Dade, Egmont Key – in memory of Victoria.”
The email addresses listed are EgmontKeySP@floridadep.gov, FSP.Feedback@floridadep.gov and crystalriver@fws.gov.
“Dear Egmont Key State Park and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Leadership,” the letter begins.
“I am writing following the reported fatal fall at the Fort Dade ruins on Egmont Key this past weekend, which tragically claimed the life of a young woman named Victoria (Zardoya). I respectfully ask the Florida Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to work together to investigate and address the elevated portion of the fort where the deadly fall reportedly occurred. The area contains a severe drop that may not be sufficiently obvious to visitors approaching or walking across the structure,” the letter says.
“I am specifically requesting that the responsible agencies:
- “Conduct an immediate, documented safety inspection of the location.
- “Install conspicuous temporary warning signs and a secure temporary barrier while a permanent solution is evaluated.
- “Install a permanent, corrosion-resistant railing, guardrail or other effective fall-prevention barrier designed to respect the fort’s historic character.
- “Inspect the other accessible Fort Dade structures for similar unprotected drops or deteriorated walking surfaces.
- “Clearly designate any areas that are unsafe for public access and ensure that warnings are visible from every reasonable approach.
- “Publicly explain what corrective actions will be taken and provide an estimated timeline for completion,” the letter says.
“Egmont Key’s historic structures should remain available for the public to experience, but preservation and visitor safety do not have to be competing priorities. Thoughtfully designed barriers and warning signs can preserve the appearance and historical importance of Fort Dade while reducing the risk of another devastating fall,” the letter says.
“This request is not intended to assign blame. It is a good-faith request for practical action following a heartbreaking loss. A warning sign, barrier or railing cannot undo what happened to Victoria, but it may prevent another family from suffering the same tragedy,” the form letter says.
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