The final text message Brazilian tourist Juliana Marins sent to her family before falling into a volcano has been revealed.
As previously reported, the 26-year-old dancer had been traveling across Southeast Asia since February, visiting the Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand before arriving in Indonesia to fulfill her dream of climbing Mount Rinjani.
While trekking near the crater rim in the early morning hours of June 21 - around 6:30AM local time - Marins reportedly became fatigued.
According to East Lombok Police spokesperson AKP Nikolas Osman, the group’s guide advised her to rest while the others continued onward. When the guide returned, she had slipped and plunged 305 meters into a ravine.
Video footage showed Marins moving after the fall, giving rescuers hope. However, fluctuating weather and heavy fog made rescue attempts challenging. It took rescue teams four days, a delay her family says was inexcusable.
“Juliana suffered great negligence on the part of the rescue team,” her family said in an emotional statement shared on social media and broadcast by TV Globo in Brazil. “If the team had reached her within the estimated time of seven hours, Juliana would still be alive.
“Juliana deserved much more,” they added. “Now we are going to seek justice for her, because that is what she deserves! Don’t give up on Juliana!”
The Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed her death, stating that Indonesian rescue teams located her body on June 24. She was transported to Bhayangkara Hospital, where her father, Manoel Marins, identified her.
“The Brazilian government, which we’ve tried to contact, is also not helping us,” he told TV Globo, as reported by The Daily Beast and Newsweek. “This is very sad and extremely serious. She is a 26-year-old girl, a Brazilian citizen, and no one, except family and friends, seems to care.”
Marins' frustrated sister, Marianna, claimed the Indonesian rescue team provided misleading updates and edited search footage.
She alleged the family was falsely told that her sister was receiving food and water, stating: “The Indonesian government is lying, and the embassy is not verifying the facts before informing us.”
At the start of her travels, the late dancer sent her mother a heartfelt message, shared on Brazilian program Fantastico: “Mami, I love you so much. I was heartbroken when we said goodbye," cited by News.com.au.
"In fact, that’s the only thing that worries me: letting you, papi, or my sister be disappointed. Other than that, I’m not afraid of much, much less trouble," they shared, adding that she was fearless in the face of life’s difficulties.
“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," she continued. "I am 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 is what makes me fearless.”
The late woman's tragic passing has prompted Indonesian authorities to pledge a review of safety procedures on popular trekking routes.
The Indonesian Ministry of Forestry and the National Search and Rescue Authority said they would evaluate and improve standard operating procedures for climbing activities.
“In the example of a tourist area, it must be able to start from communication,” said Mohammad Syafi’i, Head of Basarnas, as reported by The Bali Sun. “With communication, we can assess the potential danger, prepare the personnel and equipment. Our hope, with this limited ability can complement each other.”
Plans include increasing posts along climbing paths and introducing RFID technology on climbers’ bracelets to track emergencies quickly.
The Minister of Forestry, Raja Juli Antoni, urged tourists to carefully assess their abilities before taking on intensive climbs.
Meanwhile, Marins' family continues to demand accountability. They believe that the delays and lack of clear information during the rescue cost her life.