A French travel influencer whose wanderlust-filled content had won her tens of thousands of fans online has died in a tragic accident in Central America, leaving her community in mourning.
Emma Marie Laurent, 24, known online as “your barefoot BFF,” lost her life in the early hours of 9 October 2026, when the vehicle she was riding in was overturned and swept away after attempting to cross the Nahualapa River in Nicaragua.
She passed away alongside two other women: Noë Lina Luscher, a 20-year-old Swiss tourist, and Karen Nahomi López Montano, a 19-year-old Nicaraguan hotel worker.
The lone survivor was the driver, Mexican national Martin Gerardo García Girón, who managed to escape. Authorities have since launched an investigation into the incident.
The accident occurred at approximately 1 am near El Manzano in the Chinandega region.
Heavy rainfall had caused the Nahualapa River to swell dramatically, and the strong currents proved too powerful for the Toyota Hilux pickup that the group was travelling in.
Nicaragua’s Co-President Rosario Murillo offered condolences to the victims’ families and used the occasion to caution travellers against crossing rivers during the rainy season.
Who was Emma Marie Laurent?
Laurent had built a loyal following of more than 43,000 on Instagram by sharing her life on the road, van-life adventures, and travels across Europe, Africa and the Caribbean.
At the time of the accident, she was in Chinandega visiting one of her sisters, who lives in the region, accompanied by another sister.
Just a week before her death, she had posted a video from Portugal, sharing a French caption that reflected on the beauty of the world and the people who truly appreciate it. It was among her final post.
See the post below:
Netizens react
News of her passing prompted an outpouring of grief across her social media pages, with thousands of followers leaving heartfelt messages.
Toni Lawson Melucci wrote:
“My sincere condolences to her family. May she rest in peace.”
Edgar Barnes added:
“Requiescat In Pace. My sincerest prayers and condolences to her family, friends, colleagues and community during this time.”
Dante K BreckReal commented:
“Rest In Peace 🙏 💐and healing for your family.”
