Then on June 24, a gut-wrenching update from Gunung Rinjani National Park revealed that drones located her body on a rocky cliff, motionless, at a depth of 1,600 feet.
Final text
While the woman was left stranded, injured and unable to climb back to safety, she sent a final text to her mom, who shared the message with Brazilian news outlet Fantástico.
“Mom, I love you so much. My heart broke when we said goodbye.” the text said. “Actually, that’s the only thing that worries me: letting you, Dad, or my sister down. Otherwise, I’m not afraid of much, much less of hardship.”
The message continued: “I was raised by a woman who can solve any problem and who isn’t afraid to take risks and go after her dreams. I’m like that too. I have different desires and dreams. I love you all very much! And I will always be grateful for all the support, care, and affection. That’s what makes me fearless.”
Autopsy results
The post-mortem revealed extensive internal bleeding and multiple serious fractures, injuries described as so severe that her death likely occurred within approximately 20 minutes.
But the exact moment that she died remains unclear. In the period between her fall and the day before her body was recovered, Juliana was reportedly heard calling out for help, and drone footage captured images indicating she was still alive inside the crater, suggesting she survived the initial impact before her condition worsened.
The circumstances surrounding the rescue have sparked criticism from her family, who argued Juliana was “abandoned,” and that the search was “botched.”
“Juliana was in this group, but she got very tired and asked to stop for a while. They kept going, and the guide didn’t stay with her,” Mariana Marins said of her sister, whose heartbreaking final moments were captured in drone images.
Deadly mountain
Mount Rinjani, an active volcano that last erupted in 2016, is known for both its allure and danger.
According to Asia News Network, nine hikers died between 2017 and 2024 from various causes, including exhaustion and accidents.
Just one month before Juliana’s tragic fall, a 57-year-old Malaysian hiker also died after falling from a cliff. Earlier in October, a 16-year-old from Jakarta met a similar fate.
But rarely has a tragedy captured the world’s attention like Juliana Marins.
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