RHONJ star Milania Giudice's late friend's twin sister breaks silence on her tragic death at age 20

The twin sister of Milania Giudice's late childhood friend Victoria Zardoya broke silence just days after the tragic death of her sibling at age 20. 

Zardoya suffered a 'devastating fall' on July 24 while exploring historic ruins in Florida. Two days later, she passed away after sustaining fatal injuries.

Earlier this week, it was revealed that Zardoya's autopsy has not yet been completed, with a spokesperson noting it was due to her being an organ donor. 

Her twin sister, Alexandra Zardoya, shared a post on Friday which included photos of the pair from over the years. 

And in the caption, she called her sibling 'a hero' while admitting 'half of my heart will forever be broken.'

'I can't believe this is real life. Tears are falling down my cheeks as I type every word,' Alexandra began. 'My twin sister, my other half, we were in the womb together, and ever since then we have been inseparable.'

She continued, 'You are the only person in this world who truly understood every single part of me. You truly were a light in everyone's life, especially mine.'

Alexandra said that Zardoya was 'everything and more to me' before sharing that her twin sister's death feels like 'a bad dream' that she could still wake up from. 

'I don't know what I am going to do without you by my side,' she emotionally wrote while opening up about their special bond. 

'We shared a life, a heart, a soul, and a love unlike anything I will ever experience again. Half of my heart will forever be broken. It was always supposed to be me and you till the end, Vic.' 

She added that her twin was 'intelligent, caring, and endlessly empathetic' as well as 'the funniest person I knew.'

Alexandra expressed that she 'admired' how Zardoya 'lived every day in the moment and were unapologetically yourself.'

She also penned, 'You were the reason why I could keep going. You are my person and no one will ever compare to you.

'You didn't deserve to go so soon. You were only twenty years old. Such a young soul filled with so much life.'

Alexandra continued, 'I wish I could go to your room right now, give you the biggest hug, and hear your beautiful voice and contagious laugh one more time.'

She also opened up about her twin sister's choice to be an organ donor. 

'Because of your selfless choice eight people will have a second chance at life. You are a hero, Victoria.'

At the end of the caption, Alexandra promised that she will make her sister 'proud and live out your name everyday of my life.

'I'll miss you for eternity, Vic. To the loudest, craziest, funniest, happiest, most loving, and most stunning human being on this planet, I know wherever you are right now, you're living it up. May you rest in peace, my love. Till we meet again, best friend.'

Alexandra included photos of both herself and Victoria from their childhood up until recent years. 

One black and white image captured Alexandra holding her sister's hand in the hospital. 

Giudice also re-shared Alexandra's post to her Instagram stories. 

Daily Mail has reached out to a rep for the Giudice family for comment, but has yet to hear back. 

It comes just two days after officials in Florida said that Zardoya's autopsy has not yet been completed. 

'The autopsy, as far as I can tell, has not been done yet, because she is an organ donor,' a spokesperson for The Hillsborough County Medical Examiner Department told The U.S. Sun on Wednesday.

Zardoya's shock passing was announced by Giudice's father and RHONJ star Joe Giudice, who revealed she had had a 'simple fall.'

Victoria Silberbusch, a friend of the late student, revealed Zardoya had flown down to Florida to visit friends for the weekend before her fatal fall on July 24.

Sharing a lengthy statement at the request of Zardoya's family, she wrote, 'On July 24, 2026, what began as a fun, innocent day on the water with both old and new friends ended in an unimaginable and unexpected way.

'A beautiful 20-year-old woman named Victoria Zardoya, who had flown down to Florida for the weekend to visit friends, sustained fatal injuries due to a devastating fall while we were 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…Everything changed in a matter of seconds.'

Silberbusch continued, '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 further 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 how urgent the situation was.

'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.'

She continued, '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. On July 26, Victoria passed away from her injuries.'

Silberbusch recalled Zardoya's final moments, saying, 'The look on her face as we locked eyes when she realized she was falling. The sudden silence that followed her gasp.

'The realization that she fell all the way down onto stairs. The not being able to even see her when we looked over the edge. The desperate hope that somehow everything would be okay. The realization that life can change forever in the span of a single moment.

'My heart is broken for Victoria’s family and for the friends who loved her deeply. I cannot imagine the weight of their grief. I only hope they know this: Victoria was never alone. 

'From the moment she fell, every person did everything in their power to help her. She was surrounded by people who cared, people who fought for her and people who refused to give up hope.

'Please keep Victoria, her family, and everyone who loved her in your thoughts. And if this tragedy reminds us of anything, I hope it’s this: life is unimaginably precious. Hold the people you love a little tighter.'

She added, 'Say the things you've been meaning to say. None of us know how many ordinary moments we have left. Rest in peace, Victoria.'

The statement was re-shared to Giudice's Instagram stories at the time.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office told The Daily Mail in a statement, 'On July 24, 2026, at approximately 6:08pm, our Marine Unit responded after receiving reports that an individual had fallen from one of the structures on Egmont Key.

'Zardoya was airlifted to a local hospital in critical condition, where she remained until being pronounced deceased on July 27, 2026.'

Alongside a photo with his daughter and Zardoya, Joe wrote, 'There are no words for this kind of pain.

'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. 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, you will be missed more than you’ll ever know. You’ll always have a place in our hearts, and I’ll never forget you.

'My heart is with your family. Rest in peace, beautiful girl. Until we meet again.'

His ex-wife Teresa commented on his post, 'Forever in our hearts.'

Giudice, who was arrested for assault in May, has yet to post a tribute message but reposted messages from her friends honoring Zardoya and shared photos of the pair as young children.