Autopsy Reveals That Brazilian Tourist Succumbed Within Minutes After Tumbling Into Volcano

6 July 2025

Juliana Marins was found dead four days after she fell during a hike on a volcano

An autopsy report from Bali Mandara Hospital has delivered chilling clarity on the tragic death of 26-year-old Brazilian traveler Juliana Marins, who fell into the crater of Mount Rinjani, an active volcano on Lombok Island, Indonesia, late June. The report confirms she died of blunt force trauma that caused massive internal bleeding, most notably in her chest cavity, and that death came quickly likely within twenty minutes of the fatal fall.

Forensic pathologist Dr. Ida Bagus Putu Alit detailed how the injuries were extensive, affecting almost every region of her body. He emphasized that her chest and back sustained especially severe trauma to the respiratory organs, resulting in a massive hemorrhage that proved fatal. He also noted fractures to her thigh, scratches and abrasions consistent with tumbling over jagged volcanic rock, and a head injury though this was not the primary cause of death.

Drone footage captured by hikers showed Marins still alive roughly 200 meters down the slope after her initial fall. She was later found approximately 600 meters below, in a location difficult to access. Dr. Alit suggested that she may have survived the first fall only to suffer a second, more devastating drop. That second fall likely delivered the fatal wounds. The body’s removal, hindered by poor weather and unstable terrain, took days, which, along with subsequent refrigeration and freezing, complicated the determination of the exact time of death. However, based on what was seen, experts estimate she died sometime between Tuesday and Wednesday.

Investigators ruled out hypothermia or dehydration as contributing factors. Freezing the body altered certain post-mortem indicators, such as lividity and rigor, but Alit emphasized that the injuries were overwhelming and consistently pointed to a rapid mortality from the trauma alone. Toxicology results are expected in about two weeks, and Marins’s family has requested a second autopsy to be conducted in Brazil, citing disagreement with the initial findings.

Marins, a publicist and dancer from Niterói, Brazil, had been traveling across Southeast Asia, sending touching messages to her family before the accident. In one final text, she told her mother she was looking forward to their future, expressed concern about disappointing her family, and stated that she was not afraid of trying new things or facing challenges.

This heartbreaking outcome emphasizes the razor-thin line between survival and tragedy in rugged natural environments. While Mount Rinjani remains a stunning and adventurous destination, its terrain, sharp volcanic pebbles, steep slopes and loose sand can transform a routine climb into a perilous freefall. The incident also highlights the challenges of high-altitude rescue operations in remote volcanic settings, where weather and geography can delay aid and increase risk.

The findings raise uneasy questions about the timing of interventions. Drone footage that showed Marins alive shortly after the fall fueled hope, but rescue efforts stalled due to equipment limits, severe cliffs, and worsening weather. The family has voiced frustration, questioning whether swifter action could have altered the outcome.

Beyond illumination of her final minutes, the autopsy report brings a human dimension to the tragedy. It stands in stark contrast to the photos and videos of a vibrant young woman planning her next adventure, determined and unafraid. Now, she is remembered as someone who embraced life fully and faced new challenges with courage themes made more poignant by the way her life came to a sudden close.

As investigators proceed with further tests, and a second autopsy in Brazil unfolds, more clarity may yet emerge. In the meantime, this sobering case serves as a tragic reminder to those venturing into the wilderness that even a moment of safety can swiftly become a moment of peril. For Juliana Marins, a bright journey through unfamiliar lands ended abruptly in a drop into the unknown.