Brazilian Tourist Dies After Fall from Indonesia’s Mount Rinjani: Autopsy Confirms Death Within 20 Minutes

Juliana Marins survived the initial fall, but successive rescue efforts were thwarted by fog, shifting sands and steep, unstable terrain

A Brazilian woman who plunged nearly 600 meters while trekking on Indonesia’s Mount Rinjani died from internal injuries within 20 minutes of her fall, according to an official autopsy report.

Juliana Marins, 26, was hiking with five other international tourists and a local guide near the crater of Mount Rinjani on Lombok Island when she slipped on 21 June. The fall occurred in two stages—an initial descent of about 150 meters, followed by a second drop that took her body an additional 450 meters down the cliffside.

Forensic specialist Dr. Ida Bagus Putu Alit said that Marins died from severe trauma to “almost all parts of her body”

Despite surviving the first fall and reportedly crying out for help, Marins ultimately succumbed to her injuries before rescuers could reach her. A thermal drone located her body near the crater wall on 24 June. Rescue teams, hampered by fog, shifting terrain, and steep conditions, were unable to extract her until 25 June. She was declared dead at the scene and later transported to Bali Mandara Hospital for examination.

According to Indonesian forensic pathologist Dr. Ida Bagus Putu Alit, the cause of death was “internal bleeding due to blunt force trauma” sustained in the fall. Nearly all parts of her body showed signs of injury, particularly her back and limbs. The report stated that she died less than 20 minutes after internal bleeding began, ruling out hypothermia as a factor.

Manoel Marins (center) and Estela Marins (left) during the funeral for their daughter Juliana Marins, who died after falling from the summit of Mount Rinjani in Indonesia

Marins’ body was returned to Brazil on 1 July and laid to rest in her hometown of Niteroi on 4 July. Her family has expressed outrage over the delay in rescue operations, claiming she might have survived had help arrived sooner.

“If the team had reached her within the estimated time of seven hours, Juliana would still be alive,” her family said in a public statement. “Juliana deserved more. Now we seek justice for her. Don’t give up on Juliana.”

26-year-old Juliana Marins died after she fell while climbing Mount Rinjani, the second highest volcano in Indonesia.

Mohammad Syafii, head of Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), acknowledged the family’s concerns and explained the difficult conditions that delayed the mission. He noted that attempts to use a helicopter for evacuation were thwarted by poor weather, forcing teams to carry the body on foot over a six-hour operation.

The tragic incident has reignited scrutiny of safety infrastructure and emergency response capabilities on Mount Rinjani, a major tourist destination and Indonesia’s second-highest volcano.

Members of Brazil’s Air Force carry Marins’s coffin

Speaking at his daughter's burial, Juliana’s father, Manoel Marins, condemned what he described as the “precarious public services” in Indonesia. “It’s a tourist destination, known worldwide—a country that depends on tourism to survive. It should have better infrastructure and rescue resources,” he said.

Final autopsy results, including toxicology analysis, are expected in the coming weeks.

Drone footage shot by passing hikers showed her alive, some 200 meters down the mountainside