A Joyful Summer Day Turns into a Family\u2019s Worst Nightmare<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What began as a carefree summer afternoon on Star Lake<\/strong>, Florida, turned into an unimaginable tragedy \u2014 and a moment of profound heroism that left an entire community shaken.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On Tuesday, June 24, 2025<\/strong>, 11-year-old Jordan Roe<\/strong> lost her life in a devastating tubing accident. But in her final moments, she performed an act of love and bravery that would define her legacy forever: she saved her 8-year-old cousin, Laila<\/strong>, from drowning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jordan, affectionately known by her family as \u201cthe protector,\u201d had always shown deep compassion for others. Whether caring for animals, dreaming of becoming a vet, or simply looking after her younger cousins, Jordan\u2019s kindness ran deep<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That selflessness was tragically on full display during the family\u2019s tubing trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to WCJB<\/strong>, Jordan, Laila, and 9-year-old Brylee were riding together on a float being pulled behind a Sea-Doo Jet Ski<\/strong> on Star Lake, which borders Putnam and Alachua Counties<\/strong>. The jet ski suddenly veered off course and crashed into a dock, throwing all three children into the water<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the chaos that followed, initial reports misidentified the victim. But it was Jordan who was later confirmed to have died. Brylee suffered only minor bruises<\/strong>, while Laila was critically injured<\/strong> and rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Her survival, the family says, is entirely because of Jordan<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cJordan sacrificed her life, and she saved her cousin\u2019s life with her life,\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n her aunt said, her voice heavy with grief and admiration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kristine Robinson<\/strong>, the mother of Laila and Brylee, was in Tampa caring for her newborn in the NICU<\/strong> when she received the call that would change her family forever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI just ask everyone, hold your babies tight,\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Robinson told **WJHG**.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe all want to have fun with our kids. Please be careful.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n As Laila continues to fight for her life in a pediatric ICU<\/strong>, her family clings to the memory of the cousin who gave her another chance. Laila has already undergone multiple surgeries and is showing signs of strength \u2014 a testament to the bond she shared with Jordan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, Jordan\u2019s memory is being honored far and wide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A GoFundMe campaign<\/strong> created in her name describes the 11-year-old as a \u201cfree spirit\u201d with a heart for helping others. The page highlights her dream of becoming a veterinarian and how she often woke up checking if her hands were steady enough to care for animals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cJordan died as she lived \u2014 protecting her family,\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n wrote Robinson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEven in her passing, she gave the gift of life to others through organ donation, fulfilling her wish to bring hope and smiles to those in need.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Locals and strangers alike have rallied around the Roe family. Two fundraising pages<\/strong> have been launched: one to help cover Jordan\u2019s funeral expenses<\/strong>, and another to support Laila\u2019s ongoing medical treatment<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Steven Gabbard<\/strong>, a longtime resident of Star Lake, echoed the shock felt across the community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh my gosh. It\u2019s unbelievable,\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n he told **First Coast News**.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cStar Lake is usually so peaceful. You don\u2019t expect this kind of tragedy.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Despite the heartbreak, Jordan\u2019s final act \u2014 laying down her life to save someone else<\/strong> \u2014 has become a powerful symbol of courage, love, and sacrifice. At only 11 years old, she showed a level of bravery that most can only imagine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe love, laughter, and joy you brought will echo in our hearts forever. You were a light in our lives, and that light will never fade,\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n wrote family friend **Allison Hadley** in an emotional Facebook tribute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission<\/strong> continues to investigate the accident, they\u2019re urging anyone with video footage or information to come forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But in the eyes of many, the most important part of the story has already been written \u2014 in the selfless, heroic final chapter of a girl who will never be forgotten.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Florida Girl, 11, Dies Saving Cousin in Tragic Tubing Accident: \u201cShe Gave Her Life with Love\u201d Keywords: Florida<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":732,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-730","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/states-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/730","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/states-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/states-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/states-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/states-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=730"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/states-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/730\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":734,"href":"https:\/\/states-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/730\/revisions\/734"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/states-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/732"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/states-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=730"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/states-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=730"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/states-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=730"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"https:\/\/states-news.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/jetskit.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nA Child with a Heart for Others<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/states-news.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/jord.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nConfusion and Heartbreak in the Aftermath<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/states-news.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/jord12-edited.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nA Mother\u2019s Unimaginable Call<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Laila\u2019s Ongoing Recovery and Jordan\u2019s Enduring Legacy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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A Community in Mourning<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Remembering a Brave Heart<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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