Juliana Marins, a 26-year-old Brazilian tourist, sent her mother one final text message during a trip that would tragically become her last.
Marins died after falling into a volcano crater while hiking on Mount Rinjani, a popular trekking destination on the Indonesian island of Lombok. Her family has since shared the final messages she sent during her trip; a mixture of love, fearlessness, and quiet reflection.
“I’m not afraid,” the tourist told her mother, in texts obtained by Brazilian news outlet Fantastico. “The only thing that worries me is disappointing you, papi, or my sister… I was raised by a woman who can solve any problem and who is not afraid to take the plunge and go after her dreams. I am like that too.”
“Mami, I love you so much,” she wrote, via The Sun. “I was heartbroken when we said goodbye.”
The accident occurred on the morning of June 21. Marins had been hiking with a guide and asked to stop for a break. The group continued on ahead, but when the guide returned, she was gone. A search party later located her using drone surveillance, which showed her motionless and trapped on a cliff 500 meters deep.
After several days of search efforts, hampered by rough terrain and poor visibility, authorities confirmed on June 24 that her body had been recovered. She had not survived the fall.
The Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs shared the update, noting that rescue efforts had spanned four days and faced “adverse weather, ground and visibility conditions.”
But for Marins’ family, grief has quickly turned to anger. In a statement posted to social media on June 25, they accused the Indonesian rescue team of acting too slowly, suggesting she could have been saved if they’d reached her sooner.
“If the team had arrived within the estimated time of 7 hours, Juliana would still be alive,” they wrote, per UniLAD. “Juliana deserved so much more. Now we are going to seek justice, because that is what she deserves.”
The route Marins was taking has been described by previous hikers as extremely challenging, even dangerous. And for some, questions now linger over the safety standards and accountability of trekking tours on the mountain.
Tereza Cristina, a Brazilian senator, publicly demanded answers: “Juliana was left behind twice, once on the trail, and again after she fell. The Brazilian government must demand a full investigation and accountability.”
Marins’ story has struck a nerve in Brazil and beyond. A young woman traveling the world with joy and courage, sharing her love with her family until the very end, and now, a call for justice that echoes across continents.
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