The tragic death of 26-year-old Brazilian traveler Juliana Marins on Mount Rinjani, an active volcano in Indonesia, has sparked widespread shock and confusion after newly released autopsy results contradicted earlier reports and drone footage of the incident. Juliana, who had been touring Southeast Asia, joined a group hike on Lombok Island when she suffered a devastating fall on June 28, 2025. While early accounts suggested she had fallen twice and remained alive after the first drop, the official autopsy paints a different, more heartbreaking picture.
Conducted by Indonesian forensic experts at Bali Mandara Hospital, the examination revealed that Juliana died from blunt force trauma leading to rapid internal bleeding. According to Dr. Ida Bagus Putu Alit, a forensic pathologist involved in the case, the most severe injuries were to her chest and back, damaging vital organs and causing her death approximately 20 minutes after the fall. Though she sustained head injuries and a fractured femur, these were not deemed the primary cause of death. The terrain of Mount Rinjani—a treacherous mix of gravel, coarse sand, and sharp rocks—likely worsened her injuries as she tumbled down the slope. However, drone footage taken by nearby hikers contradicts this timeline. The video shows Juliana visibly alive and conscious after falling around 200 meters, sitting upright on the rocky slope while rescuers called out to her from above. Despite immediate rescue attempts, she could not be located in that area, and her body was discovered days later roughly 600 meters farther down the volcano. This discrepancy has led investigators to believe a possible second fall may have occurred, causing the fatal injuries described in the autopsy. Questions about the exact time of death persist, particularly because her body was stored in a mortuary freezer after retrieval. According to forensic expert Dr. Iwan Aflanie, freezing can alter standard post-mortem signs like livor mortis and rigor mortis, making precise time-of-death estimates challenging. Some speculated that hypothermia, dehydration, or starvation could have contributed to her passing, given the freezing nighttime temperatures on the volcano and her lack of survival gear. But Dr. Alit ruled these out, citing the overwhelming trauma and internal bleeding as the primary factors. Toxicology results are still pending, but no evidence suggests drugs or alcohol played a role. Juliana’s family has announced plans for a second independent autopsy once her body returns to Brazil, hoping for more clarity about her final moments. Meanwhile, heartbreaking text messages she sent at the start of her Southeast Asian adventure have surfaced, showing her love for her parents and sister. “Mami, I love you so much. It broke my heart when we said goodbye,” one message read. “I’m only worried about disappointing you, papi, or my sister.
Other than that, I’m not afraid of anything—not even the challenges.” The incident has reignited concerns about safety on Mount Rinjani, one of Indonesia’s most popular but dangerous hiking destinations. Many travelers and social media users are now calling for stricter safety measures, improved rescue protocols, or even restrictions on certain trails to prevent similar tragedies in the future. While the autopsy provides key medical findings, the conflicting details between official reports and drone footage leave unanswered questions about Juliana’s final hours, adding to the heartbreak of a family searching for truth and closure.
