The sister of Sydney Castillo, Brittany Clark’s late best friend, has penned a heartfelt eulogy in the wake of cruel remarks from online trolls regarding Clark’s tragic passing.
Ashley Borrego, who lost her sister Sydney in a car accident at 20 years old in December 2015, took to Facebook to express her feelings about Clark, who was fatally attacked by an alligator while swimming in the Econlockhatchee River in central Florida.
“Brittany was my sister Sydney’s best friend, and we had a close bond,” Borrego shared. “What a remarkable person,” she added. A post from Clark’s aunt, Gina Smith, echoed similar sentiments.
Brittany Clark, who was 31 years old and a construction worker, passed away on June 28th after being trapped in a “death roll” by the alligator. She often shared fond memories of her best friend Sydney on social media.
“Happy heavenly birthday to my best friend,” she wrote on May 21, accompanied by a framed photo of herself with Castillo.
On August 20, 2018, she expressed her longing for Castillo by posting, “I really missed you this morning,” tagging her late friend, and saying, “My love, let me walk this beautiful path.”
During the attack, Clark’s boyfriend, Chance Allison, and her roommate, Jayden Hernandez, witnessed the horrifying scene and attempted to rescue her.
Experts noted that Clark took nearly all necessary precautions while in the water, and Chance dispelled rumors suggesting they were warned against swimming there. Unfortunately, many online critics quickly placed blame on the victims for their choice to swim in a river known for crocodiles.
“I can’t feel any sympathy for Brittany Clark,” one user commented on TikTok, adding, “I feel bad for the Gators instead.” Another chimed in, “Humans just destroy everything, while the animals are left to survive.”
Another post stated, “If you’re from Florida, you know better than to enter murky waters. Rest in peace, Brittany Clark.” However, many Floridians came to her defense, recounting their own experiences swimming safely in that very river.
One woman from Jacksonville, Courtney Murray, shared a nostalgic photo taken at the same spot, remembering weekends spent swimming with friends. “It’s truly heartbreaking to read these insensitive comments, considering we’ve lost such a beautiful person,” she said.
Countless others also shared memories of summer days spent enjoying the water with loved ones, echoing sentiments of loss and remembrance.
Borrego hasn’t responded to requests for further comments yet.
