A University of Tampa student has died days after a fall from a structure on Egmont Key, turning what was first reported as a dramatic rescue into a tragedy on the remote Tampa Bay island, authorities said Tuesday.
According to FOX 13 Tampa Bay, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said the woman was flown to a hospital after the fall and later died from her injuries. Officials did not specify which structure she fell from or how the incident unfolded, leaving key details about what went wrong still unanswered.
Park Advises Visitors To Avoid Closed Structures
Egmont Key is accessible only by boat and includes the remnants of Fort Dade, a late-19th-century military installation, according to Florida State Parks. A visitor notice warns that structures near the lighthouse remain closed and urges people to follow posted signs and stay out of restricted areas.
The island is also managed as a national wildlife refuge, and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service describes it as a remote island with no visitor facilities and boat-only access. Authorities had not released additional details about the rescue or the circumstances of the fall as of Tuesday night.
