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Milania Giudice's BFF Victoria Zardoya Died in Tragic Fall at Florida's Fort Dade Ruins
New details surrounding Victoria Zardoya's fatal fall have emerged.
The longtime friend of Milania Giudice died July 27 three days after sustaining injuries during a trip to Florida's Fort Dade ruins, a spokesperson for the District 12 Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed to Us Weekly Aug. 5.
According to the statement, the 20-year-old's cause of death was attributed to craniocerebral trauma and the manner of death has been ruled an accident.
Following the tragic incident, many of Victoria's close friends—including multiple members of the Giudice family—grieved their loss on social media while also paying tribute to the late University of Tampa student.
Milania, 20, shared a collection of childhood photos with Victoria on Instagram Stories, writing, "Now I have to remember you for longer than I knew you."
Meanwhile, her big sister Gia Giudice, 25, posted, "Heaven gained a beautiful angel today. We love you Victoria."
Milania and Gia's father Joe Giudice penned a lengthy tribute to Victoria, who he considered a member of their family.
"There are no words for this kind of pain," The Real Housewives of New Jersey alum shared on Instagram July 27. "Victoria, you were like a daughter to me. I watched you grow up with my daughter Milania. We were neighbors for years, and you became part of our family. I can’t believe you’re gone."
"To think that a simple fall while just being young and having fun could take such a beautiful life is heartbreaking," Joe, 54, added. "You were only 20 years old, with your whole future ahead of you. Life is so fragile. In one moment, everything can change. Please don’t take a single day or the people you love for granted."
Victoria Zardoya/Instagram
Victoria's friend Victoria Silberbusch—who was touring the historic Egmont Key site with her on July 24—even shared insight into the moments leading up to Victoria's deadly fall down stairs.
"At first, we thought Victoria had fallen only one level," she wrote on Instagram July 26 alongside photos from the day. "We ran to the edge, calling out to her, but quickly realized she had fallen much farther than we first believed."
While part of the group "immediately began climbing down" to get to Zardoya, Silberbusch said that others called 911 before locating on a nearby boat "launched flares to help first responders locate us as quickly as possible."
Victoria Zardoya/Instagram
"We stayed with Victoria and held her, trying to make her as comfortable as possible while we waited for first responders to arrive," Silberbusch added. "Paramedics responded by boat, and a medical helicopter was eventually able to transport her to the hospital after an incredibly difficult rescue."
For a look back at Victoria's friendship with Milania over the years, keep reading...
Joe Giudice/Instagram
Like Family
In a throwback pic, Milania Giudice hung out at home with her friend Victoria Zardoya and her dad Joe Giudice, who grieved the loss of his daughter’s best friend in July 2026, writing on Instagram, “You were like a daughter to me. I watched you grow up with my daughter Milania. We were neighbors for years, and you became part of our family. I can’t believe you’re gone.”
Victoria Zardoya/Instagram
Glitter, Glam, Giudice
Giudice and Zardoya coordinated their festival ‘fits during the Breakaway Music Festival in Tampa in April 2026. The besties posed alongside their friends and danced until the sun set.
Milania Giudice/Instagram
Eager to Embrace Easter
Giudice and Zardoya had their arms wrapped around each other as they soaked up the sun together on Easter Sunday 2026 in Tampa, Fla., where they attended the University of Tampa together.
Victoria Zardoya/Instagram
Bad to the Bone
The pair were all smiles as they attended a costume party in November 2025 with friends dressed in caveman attire,, matching their fur boots and bone-inspired jewelry.
Milania Giudice/Instagram
Pony Up
Giudice and Zardoya wore their New Jersey best as they attended the Haskell Stakes horse-racing tournament in July 2025.
Milania Giudice/Instagram
The Good Ones
The BFFs embraced their love for each other on Valentine’s Day 2024, matching their red tops and posing together with friends at a party. Giudice captioned her Cupid-inspired Instagram post, “Keep the good ones close.”
Victoria Zardoya/Instagram
The Simple Life
Zardoya and Giudice’s friendship was on par with any famous pairing, including Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie. Indeed, Zardoya celebrated her bestie’s February 2023 birthday with pictures from some of their many vacations together, writing in the caption, “It’s my best friends birthday. I love you. The Paris to my Nicole 4L.”
Victoria Zardoya/Instagram
Global Girlfriends
These two were jetsetters through and through and never found a body of water they didn’t love, including the coastal waters of Jamaica, where they visited in September 2022.
Victoria Zardoya/Instagram
Matching Monochrome
Their style matched their sisterhood, as Giudice and Zardoya sported coordinated black-and-white swimsuits during a trip to Cancún, Mexico, in August 2021.
Victoria Zardoya/Instagram
Sisters For Life
Zardoya’s friendship with Giudice was on display yet again in her February 2020 birthday tribute, as she detailed their bond in the caption.
“Happy birthday to the girl who has never left my side,” Zardoya wrote on Instagram. “No matter what happens i will always love you like the triplet i never had. cheers love u m money.”
Instagram/Milania Giudice
Never on Thin Ice
Besties from day one, Zardoya smiled with Giudice at the ice rink in a throwback picture that the Real Housewives of New Jersey alum shared after the news of her friend's death.
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