In a tragic incident, an Italian woman lost her life after being fatally wounded by a swordfish while surfing in Indonesia.
Giulia Manfrini, a surf instructor and co-founder of the surf travel company AWAVE, was surfing at Ombak Bengbeng, near Masokut Island in Indonesia, when the unfortunate event occurred last week.
Giulia was in the company of her friends, Alexandre Ribas and Massimo Ferro, when a swordfish unexpectedly appeared before her.
Swordfish are easily identifiable by their elongated bills, which resemble a sword, extending prominently from their faces.
These formidable bills aid the fish in cutting through prey. According to Ocean Conservancy, swordfish are also incredibly fast swimmers, reaching speeds of up to 60mph.
The combination of strength and velocity likely contributed to the tragic accident when Giulia was impaled by the swordfish.
Lahmudin Siregar, the acting head of the Mentawai Islands’ Disaster Management Agency, told Australia’s ABC News that the fish ‘unexpectedly jumped towards Manfrini and pierced her chest’.
Ribas and Ferro quickly attempted to save Giulia by administering first aid and transporting her to the Pei Pei Pasakiat Taileleu Health Center, but her injuries were too severe.
Medical assessments provided to ABC News revealed that Giulia suffered a 5cm deep wound to her chest and exhibited signs of drowning.
Following the heartbreaking news, Giulia’s friends, colleagues, and family members have been honoring her memory. James Colston, the co-founder of AWAVE Travel, remarked that she ‘touched countless people within the surf world’ both in Europe and globally.
“Her kindness, care and positivity were remembered by all that met her and she will be dearly missed,” he stated.
Fabio Giulivi, the mayor of Giulia’s hometown Venaria Reale, also expressed his condolences on Facebook.
He wrote: “The entire Venarian community is gathering around Giulia Manfrini’s family. The news of her death has left us shocked and makes us feel powerless in front of the tragedy that took her life so prematurely.
“Giulia, from Venaria, only 36 years old, had long had her double dream of surfing, her favorite sport, and of opening a travel agency for sports holidays.”
The mayor extended sympathies to Giulia’s family and loved ones on behalf of himself and ‘the whole City’.
Giulia’s body was first taken to the hospital and has since been transported to Padang City for repatriation to Italy.