The Haunting Final Message of a Backpacker Who Died in a Volcano Crater: “I’m Not Afraid of Much”
Juliana Marins, a 26-year-old Brazilian advertising professional, was found dead on June 24, 2025, after falling into a ravine near the crater of Indonesia’s Mount Rinjani. Her tragic passing, which initially garnered international attention due to the complex rescue operation, has once again become a focal point after her mother shared a poignant message Juliana had written months earlier—a message that now reads like a heartbreaking final goodbye.
Juliana had been on a backpacking adventure through Southeast Asia since February, exploring the Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand. On the morning of June 22, she began a hike up Mount Rinjani, Indonesia’s second-highest volcano, with five friends and a guide. Around 6:30 a.m. local time, she tragically slipped and fell from a cliff near the volcano’s crater. A group member described the conditions as treacherous, with poor visibility and an extremely challenging climb. Though she survived the initial fall and was heard screaming for help, she became stranded.
Immediate rescue efforts were severely hampered by the harsh terrain and dense fog. Drone footage from that day showed her alive and moving in the gray volcanic soil below the path. However, when rescue teams descended approximately 300 meters to her presumed location, they couldn’t find her or get a response. The next morning, drone visuals confirmed she had moved, further complicating the search. Over the following days, operations were repeatedly halted due to poor weather. Finally, on June 24, three days after her fall, rescuers reached her body 600 meters down into a ravine.
Indonesia’s search and rescue agency confirmed that 50 personnel were involved in the challenging descent. Despite locating her body, bad weather delayed the recovery, which was expected to resume the next morning. That same day, Juliana’s family publicly confirmed her death on social media, expressing profound sadness but also gratitude for the outpouring of prayers and support. They also voiced concern that the trail remained open despite the incident and other recent fatalities on the mountain, including a Malaysian tourist weeks prior.
By June 27, Juliana’s body was recovered and an autopsy performed in Indonesia. The results concluded she died from internal bleeding caused by blunt force trauma, sustaining damage to internal organs and bone fractures, with death estimated within 20 minutes of the bleeding’s onset. Hypothermia was ruled out, with toxicology results pending.
On June 29, Juliana’s parents, Manoel and Estela Marins, shared an exclusive interview on Brazil’s “Fantástico.” During the show, Estela read a deeply emotional message Juliana had written at the start of her trip. The note revealed Juliana’s strong familial bond and the internal conflict of leaving them: “Mommy, I love you so much. My heart broke when we said goodbye. Actually, that’s the only thing that worries me: disappointing you, Daddy, or my sister. Other than that, I’m not afraid of much, least of all hardships.”
In the same message, Juliana credited her mother, Estela, for instilling her independent and resilient spirit. “I was raised by a woman who can solve any problem and who isn’t afraid to go after her dreams. I’m like that too. I have different desires and dreams. I love you all so much! And I’ll always be grateful for all the support, care, and affection. That’s what keeps me from being afraid,” she wrote. Her Instagram, documenting her travels, further highlighted this connection, including a May 27 post about an emotional call with her family where she wrote, “Today I called them crying from missing them. I ended the call with a big smile on my face, laughing at my parents’ silliness, and with peace in my heart for having come into the world in this family.”
Mount Rinjani, at 3,726 meters, attracts thousands of tourists yearly, but its rugged paths have proven deadly before. Juliana Marins’ tragic death and the details of her poignant final message now serve as a stark reminder of life’s fragility.
