Ex-Chelsea star offers help to family of tragic tourist who died after plunging into active volcano crater during hike

The Irish Sun

10 hours ago

AN EX-Chelsea footie star has offered to help the family of a young backpacker who died after slipping into a volcano during a hike.
Juliana Marins, 26, tumbled more than 1,000ft from the ridge of Mount Rinjani in Indonesia down into the active crater, where she became trapped.
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Juliana Marins, 26, died after falling into an active volcano crater and finding herself unable to escape
Credit: Jam Press
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The traveller fell over 1,000ft and could not scramble back up the steep walls
Credit: Newsflash
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A major rescue operation failed to retrieve Juliana in time
Credit: AFP
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Alexandre Pato, who used to play for Chelsea, has offered to pay to repatriate the fellow Brazilian's body
Credit: Getty Images - Getty
A desperate rescue mission ensued, but when teams reached her after four days she had tragically died from her injuries and exposure.
She fell on the Saturday and her body was removed from the area on Wednesday.
Now, Alexandre Pato - a former Brazil and Chelsea player - has offered to cover the cost of repatriating her body back to Brazil.
It's unclear whether Juliana's family have accepted the kind gesture.
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The devastated family has already gone public wit fierce criticism of Juliana's tour guide and the rescue effort.
Her sister Marianna told Fantástico that Juliana was abandoned by her guide on the hike when she "got very tired" and stopped for a rest.
Marianna said: "They continued on, and the guide didn't stay with her."
Juliana was one of five travellers on the hike, led by a single tour guide.
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And her family accused the Indonesian authorities of not doing enough to reach Juliana in time.
They wrote: 'Juliana suffered serious negligence from the rescue team.
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'If they had reached her within the estimated seven-hour window, Juliana would still be alive.
'She deserved so much more. Now we will seek justice for her, because that's what she deserves.'
Juliana was from Rio de Janeiro and lived in neighbouring Niterói.
She had graduated in advertising and worked as a pole dancer and publicist.
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Pato celebrates scoring for Chelsea against Villa in a Premiere League game
Credit: PA:Press Association
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Juliana slipped and fell from a high ridge
Credit: Jam Press
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Fog and bad weather made the rescue operation much more difficult
Credit: AP
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Juliana had been travelling around south-east Asia
Credit: Jam Press
In a heartbreaking clip shared by her friend Federica, Juliana could be seen smiling at the base camp of the volcano before she fell.
The two young women joked about the view, as it had clouded over.
In the clip Federica says sarcastically: "The view is amazing, you can tell it was so worth it."
Juliana jokes: "Yeh, we did it for the view, so I'm glad, amazing!".
While searches were still underway, her sister, Mariana, said: 'We were told that Juliana panicked because she didn't know what to do – and that's what led to her disappearance.
'When the guide realised she was taking too long, he returned and saw she had fallen far below.'
Pato, 35, hung his boots in 2023 and last November began a career as a sports commentator.
He scored 10 goals in 27 appearances for Brazil's national team between 2008 and 2013.
He only played twice for Chelsea – in 2016 – but still managed to find the net in an away match against Aston Villa.
In his career, he also played for Italian giants AC Milan and Spanish side Villareal.
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An ambulance evacuated her body from the area on Wednesday - but it was too late
Credit: AP