The cause of death for Victoria Zardoya, a childhood friend of Milania Giudice, has been determined to be craniocerebral trauma, which is a form of traumatic brain injury. The manner of death was classified as an accident, according to a spokesperson for the District 12 Medical Examiner's Office.
Zardoya, 20, sustained fatal injuries after a fall on July 24 while exploring historic ruins at Fort Dade on Egmont Key in Florida. The autopsy was completed on August 3, 2026, after organ donation procedures.
Milania Giudice's mother, Teresa Giudice, a star of The Real Housewives of New Jersey, spoke about the devastating loss. In a tribute shared on Instagram, she described Zardoya as "like a daughter" to her and an "incredible built in best friend and sister" to Milania. Giudice recalled watching Zardoya and Milania grow up together, noting Zardoya's vibrant spirit, kindness, ambition, and bright future.
Milania Giudice also posted a heartfelt tribute to her best friend, expressing the difficulty of articulating her grief. She shared memories of their childhood, having met Zardoya at age four. Milania highlighted Zardoya's organ donation, which will help save eight lives.
Alexandra Zardoya, Victoria's twin sister, also broke her silence following the tragedy. She referred to her sister as "a hero" and her "other half," describing their inseparable bond. Alexandra wrote about Victoria's intelligence, empathy, humor, and the impact she had on those around her. She also acknowledged Victoria's selfless choice to be an organ donor.
Victoria Zardoya had traveled to Florida to visit friends for the weekend of her fall. Friends reported that what initially appeared to be a minor fall from one level of the ruins turned out to be a much greater distance. Emergency services, including the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Marine Unit, responded to the incident. Zardoya was airlifted to a local hospital in critical condition and was pronounced deceased on July 27, 2026.