Evening was approaching silently, a blanket of fog was spreading around. Alone, helpless and waiting for death—in that difficult moment, young mountaineer Juliana Marins wrote a last message to her mother on her mobile phone—“Mom, I love you so much.”
At the age of just 26, Juliana, a Brazilian adventurer, set out on an expedition with indomitable courage. The destination was Indonesia’s terrifying and mysterious volcano Mount Rinjani, which is about 12,000 feet high and is known as one of the most attractive trekking destinations in Southeast Asia. But this dream expedition ended in a tragic outcome.
On June 21, while hiking, she slipped on the steep slopes of Rinjani and fell into a 490-foot-deep chasm. The next four days were a fight for survival. She was trapped in the mountains until the last moment of her life, waiting for help.
Some of the messages she sent to her family, especially her mother, at the beginning of the expedition are even more heartbreaking today. In one, she wrote, “When I said goodbye, my heart broke. I was always afraid of disappointing you—you, my father, or my sister. I am not afraid, because I learned to conquer fear from you.”
Juliana also wrote, “I grew up with a woman who found solutions to all problems. She taught me how to be brave. I also wanted to move forward with courage with my dreams and desires.”
Drone footage showed Juliana alive and screaming for help after falling into the ditch. However, the weather, fog, and remote area severely hampered the rescue effort. Finally, her frozen body was recovered four days later.
Her death seemed to bring the harsh reality of nature to the fore. Many adventurers are caught between the fascination of beauty on one side and the fearsome cruelty on the other. A Malaysian tourist lost his life on the same mountain the previous month.
Yet Juliana’s death is not just an end. Her courage, love, and last-minute message have touched the hearts of millions. Perhaps she is the one who reminded them that life is too short, but the power of love and dreams is immortal.
