Travel Influencer Emma Marie Laurent Dies at 24 in Nicaragua River Incident
The French social media personality's van was swept away while crossing a swollen river.
Travel influencer Emma Marie Laurent, 24, died on October 9 after her van was swept away by a powerful river current in Nicaragua. Laurent, who was from France and documented her nomadic lifestyle online, had amassed over 43,000 followers on Instagram.
Laurent was vacationing in Nicaragua with two friends, Noë Lina Luscher, 20, and Karen Nahomi López Montano, 19. The three women were passengers in a Toyota pick-up truck attempting to cross the Nahualapa River in the northwestern department of Chinandega when the vehicle was overcome by the rising water.
Reports indicate the river's current intensified due to recent rainfall, overwhelming the vehicle as it tried to navigate the crossing. The driver, identified as Martin Gerardo García Girón, reportedly exited the vehicle to check the water depth, which was knee-high, before the group proceeded. The vehicle then overturned in the strong current.
While the driver is reported to have survived, accounts differ on whether other passengers also reached safety. Some local reports suggest two other French passengers, Roger Agustín Despouys Guillaume and Laurence Gillette Despouys Marie, made it to shore.
Nicaraguan co-president Rosario Murillo expressed condolences to the families affected and cautioned against the dangers of crossing rivers during the rainy season. "Rivers are deceptive: You think they're calm and, suddenly, the current comes rushing in," Murillo stated following the incident.
Laurent, who used the handle "your barefoot BFF" on social media, often shared reflections on appreciating the world around her. Her final post included thoughts on "the most beautiful people" being those who admire their surroundings, noticing details like changing skies or the sound of laughter.
Tributes from friends and followers have poured in online, remembering Laurent for her positive demeanor and for living her life to the fullest. "It's always the nicest people who leave first," read one comment on her Instagram page.