Summer had only just begun when a Florida family’s world shattered in an instant.
What was meant to be a carefree day on the water turned into a nightmare — and a moment of unforgettable heroism.
Eleven-year-old Jordan Roe had a heart as big as her smile. Known by her family as the “protector,” she always put others first. On Tuesday, June 24, she did that one last time — giving her life to save her 8-year-old cousin, Laila, in a devastating tubing accident that has left a community heartbroken.
The children had been enjoying a family barbecue and tubing on Star Lake, which straddles the Putnam and Alachua County line in Florida. Jordan, Laila, and 9-year-old Brylee were being pulled behind a Sea-Doo jet ski when it suddenly slammed into a dock. The impact launched all three children into the water, according to WCJB.
At first, there was confusion. Authorities didn’t immediately identify the victims, and early reports mistakenly claimed the 8-year-old had died. But it was Jordan who didn’t survive.
While Brylee walked away with minor bruises, Laila was rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. She’s since undergone several surgeries — and her family says she’s only alive because of Jordan’s final act of love.
“Jordan sacrificed her life, and she saved her cousin’s life with her life,” said her aunt, calling the brave girl the protector of their family.
Kristine Robinson, mother of Laila and Brylee, was in Tampa at the time — caring for her newborn in a NICU — when she got the call no parent wants to receive.
Now, she’s urging other families to cherish their loved ones and take water safety seriously.
“I just ask everyone, hold your babies tight,” Robinson told WJHG and continued: “We all want to have fun with our kids. Please be careful.”
Despite Laila’s condition, she continues to fight from her hospital bed in the pediatric ICU. Her family is holding onto hope, knowing the little girl with a “big heart” is determined to recover — for her mom, her baby brother, and the cousin who saved her life.
As the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission investigates the incident, they’ve asked for any eyewitness accounts or video footage from the public.
Meanwhile, tributes have poured in for Jordan, whose compassion extended beyond family. She loved animals, dreamed of becoming a veterinarian, and never missed a chance to help someone in need.
A GoFundMe set up by Kristine Robinson in Jordan’s honor described her as “a free spirit and compassionate,” and remembered how she’d wake up every day checking to see if her hands were steady enough to care for others.
“Jordan died as she lived — protecting her family,” Robinson stated. “Even 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. Jordan’s memory will live on in the lives she touched, both in our family and beyond.”
“The 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,” wrote family friend Allison Hadley in a tearful Facebook tribute.
Two fundraising pages have been launched — one to help cover Jordan’s funeral expenses, and another to support Laila’s ongoing medical care. Donations have poured in as strangers across the country are moved by Jordan’s bravery.
Longtime Star Lake resident Steven Gabbard summed up what many are feeling.
“Oh my gosh. It’s unbelievable,” he told First Coast News. “Star Lake is usually so peaceful. You don’t expect this kind of tragedy.”
Yet even in tragedy, Jordan’s final act stands as a powerful reminder of selflessness, love, and the kind of courage we rarely see—even in adults.
Her legacy lives on in the cousin she saved and the countless lives touched by her story.
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