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New details about the death of Milania Giudice’s BFF Victoria Zardoya have been revealed after an autopsy was completed.
“I can confirm that after organ donation, the autopsy was completed on August 3, 2026. The cause of death was Craniocerebral Trauma and the manner of death is Accident,” a spokesperson for the District 12 Medical Examiner’s Office tells Us.
Craniocerebral trauma, or traumatic brain injury (TBI), is damage to the brain caused by an external force, commonly categorized into penetrating and non-penetrating injuries. It results from events like falls, crashes, or blows to the head, leading to physical, cognitive, and emotional symptoms, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
Zardoya died at the age of 20 from injuries sustained in a fall on July 24, during a trip to Egmont Key, an island off the coast of Tampa Bay, Florida.
Close friend Victoria Silberbusch shared her account of Zardoya’s fatal fall via Instagram “at the request of Victoria Zardoya’s family.”
“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,” Silberbusch, who was present during the events, wrote. “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.”
Silberbusch claimed everyone “did everything they possibly could to help her.” Ultimately, her injuries from the fall were brutal.
“We immediately began climbing down to reach her while others called 911,” her statement continued. “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. … We stayed with Victoria and held her, trying to make her as comfortable as possible while we waited for first responders to arrive.”
Victoria Zardoya Courtesy of Victoria Zardoya/Instagram
Zardoya was transferred by boat and later by medical helicopter for emergency treatment. She ultimately died two days later due to her injuries. It has been reported that Zardoya was an organ donor. (A spokesperson for the Manatee County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed to Us that Zardoya’s autopsy would be completed after donation.)
The University of Tampa student was close friends with Giudice, 20, and her relatives. Soon after news of Zardoya’s death was made public, several members of the Giudice family paid tribute online.
“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,” Joe Giudice wrote via Instagram on July 26. “We were neighbors for years, and you became part of our family. I can’t believe you’re gone.”
Hollywood mourned the deaths of some of its most legendary stars in 2026. In June, legendary music executive Clive Davis also died at age 94 following a hospitalization for an upper respiratory infection. At the end of the month, news broke that the Village People lead singer Victor Willis had died. Actor Joby Baker died […]
Gia Giudice added, “Heaven gained a beautiful angel today. We love you Victoria.”
Zardoya’s close friend Molly Page Morris also described her as a “light” and “very energetic” person while speaking exclusively to Us.
“She didn’t really take anything for granted. She lived life to the fullest. Her friends would describe her as just being like the funniest person with the loudest laugh,” Morris said. “And she’s beautiful inside and out. We all went to school with her. We are all in college, and she just turned 20.”
