First responders from the Sarasota County Fire Department quickly arrived at the scene and launched what Assistant Fire Chief Tim Dorsey described as a highly dangerous and complex rescue operation. “This was far from a routine call,” Dorsey told ABC7 News. “It was a low-frequency but high-risk event. There’s a tremendous amount of danger involved in these types of rescues due to the unpredictability of water flow and the confined space.”
Despite the enormous challenges, rescue teams managed to reach Zaria and remove her from the drainage system. She was immediately given life-saving medical attention at the scene as resuscitative efforts began, and was then transported in critical condition to Sarasota Memorial Hospital. Though her small body had endured significant trauma, medical professionals did everything they could in hopes of saving her.
Neighbors, stunned by the horrifying turn of events, shared their shock and sorrow. One resident, who chose to remain anonymous, recalled the chaos and panic of that evening. “All of a sudden, I heard shouting and people screaming,” she said. “Then I heard someone say that one of the little girls from the neighborhood had been pulled into the water. It happened so fast. It’s something you never expect.”
In the days following the accident, the Sarasota community rallied around the Miller family, offering emotional and financial support during what quickly became a nightmare no parent should ever endure. A family friend established a GoFundMe page to help ease the burden of medical bills and related expenses. Messages of love, hope, and prayer poured in from across the region and beyond, with many people expressing their heartfelt wishes for Zaria’s recovery.
However, on Thursday—just five days after the tragic accident—the family shared the devastating update that so many had feared. In a sorrowful statement, they wrote: “It is with a broken heart that I have to share that Zaria has received the ultimate healing, and is now in the arms of Jesus.” After nearly a week of fighting for her life, Zaria passed away, leaving her family and community heartbroken but holding tightly to their faith.
Despite their unimaginable grief, Zaria’s parents expressed profound gratitude for the outpouring of love and compassion they had received. They thanked first responders, hospital staff, friends, neighbors, and strangers who had kept their daughter in their prayers.Continue reading…
