A Brazilian dancer who was stranded on an Indonesian volcano after plunging nearly 1,000 feet down a slope has died before rescue teams could reach her, according to her family.
Juliana Marins, 26, was hiking up Mount Rinjani, Indonesia’s second-largest volcano, when she slipped and fell from a trail early on the morning of June 21.
The young woman from Rio de Janeiro, who worked as both a publicist and a pole dancer, fell off the edge of the trail into difficult and rugged terrain.
Shocking drone footage captured after the fall showed an injured Ms. Marins crouching in a rocky ravine, having tumbled 984 feet down the steep slope before coming to rest.
She was discovered by passing tourists who heard her cries for help over the weekend.
Though alive after the fall, Ms. Marins was unable to climb back up the treacherous terrain due to her injuries. The stranded hiker also had no food, water, or shelter.
The tourists immediately alerted authorities, and rescue teams were deployed to the volcano to locate and assist her.
Rescuers reached Ms. Marins today, only to find that time had run out—she had succumbed to her injuries and exposure.
Her family confirmed her passing in a heartbreaking social media statement.
Juliana Marins, 26, was trekking up Mount Rinjani, Indonesia’s second highest volcano, when she slipped and fell from a hiking trail early on the morning of June 21.
Ms. Marins had been traveling solo across Asia since February. Before the incident, she visited Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines, documenting her journey on social media.
Shocking drone footage captured Ms. Marins crouching on a steep slope, waiting to be rescued.
Rescuers reached her today, only to find they had lost the race against time—Ms. Marins had died from her injuries and exposure.
Their brief post read:
“Today, the rescue team managed to reach the location where Juliana Marins was. With great sadness, we inform you that she did not survive. We remain deeply grateful for all the prayers, messages of affection, and support we have received.”
Speaking to the press earlier this week, Nikolas Osman, spokesman for the East Lombok Police, said Ms. Marins was hiking as part of a group and fell after taking a break due to fatigue.
The dancer fell in the Cemara Tunggal area, located between 8,500 and 8,900 feet above sea level.
“While heading to the summit of Mount Rinjani through Cemara Tunggal, the victim experienced fatigue, and the guide advised her to rest. The other five guests continued the journey with the guide. However, when he returned to fetch her, Ms. Marins was already missing,” Osman explained.
A rescue team was dispatched after receiving an emergency call at 2:32 p.m. local time on Saturday from horrified tourists. Since then, six rescue teams have been working in difficult weather conditions, supported by two helicopters and specialized equipment such as an industrial drill.
On Sunday, Ms. Marins was spotted by a search drone, but when rescuers descended the volcano on Monday, she was no longer in the same position, suggesting she had attempted to climb to safety but was unsuccessful.
Her body was eventually found by one of the rescue teams that managed to safely descend into the crater.
A handout photo from Indonesia’s Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) shows rescuers preparing for a rescue operation for a Brazilian tourist who fell while hiking Mount Rinjani on Lombok Island, West Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia, June 24, 2025.
Ms. Marins had been on a solo trip across Asia since February. Before the incident, she had visited Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines, documenting her journey on social media.
Pictured: A stock image of the crater of Mount Rinjani on Lombok Island, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia.
A rescue team was dispatched to the scene after an emergency call was received at 2:32 p.m. local time on Saturday.
Speaking to the press earlier this week, Nikolas Osman, spokesman for the East Lombok Police, said Ms. Marins was hiking with a group when she fell after experiencing fatigue.
Juliana’s family confirmed her death in a social media post today, which read:
“Today, the rescue team managed to reach the place where Juliana Marins was. With great sadness, we inform you that she did not survive. We remain very grateful for all the prayers, messages of affection, and support that we have received.”
Ms. Marins’ sister, Mariana, was compelled to denounce false reports that her sister had been safely rescued earlier this week. She said:
“We received, with great concern and apprehension, information that the rescue team had delivered food, water, and warm clothing to Juliana. This is not true. The information we have is that they have not yet been able to reach her because the rescue ropes were not long enough and visibility was poor.
All videos claiming the rescue team arrived are fabricated, including one showing the rescue team reaching her. The video and messages associated with it were forged. We even celebrated the news, so it was a shock to learn it was false.”
The Brazilian Foreign Ministry issued a statement confirming that the Brazilian embassy in Jakarta sent representatives to monitor the rescue efforts. The statement said:
“The ambassador has personally contacted the International Director of the Search and Rescue Agency and the Director of the Indonesian National Disaster Agency, receiving regular reports from local authorities on the progress of the operation.”
Ms. Marins had been traveling solo across Asia since February. Before the incident, she visited Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines, documenting her journey on social media. Reflecting on her trip in a post on May 29, she wrote:
“Taking a long trip alone means the feelings are always more intense and unpredictable than we are used to. And that’s okay. I’ve never felt so alive.”
Mount Rinjani is an active volcano on the island of Lombok, Indonesia, standing at 3,700 meters (12,200 feet), making it the country’s second highest volcano. It is famous for its stunning crater lake, Segara Anak, and is a popular destination for hikers and adventure seekers.
