While surfing off the coast of West Sumatra, Indonesia, an Italian surfer named Giulia Manfrini was hit by a swordfish and perished in a rare and terrible tragedy
According to local authorities, Giulia Manfrini, 36, was killed when a swordfish pierced her chest when she was surfing in the waters off Ombak Bengbeng, close to Masokut Island. The swordfish “unexpectedly jumped towards Manfrini and pierced her chest,” according to Lahmudin Siregar, interim head of the Disaster Management Agency for the Mentawai Islands.
Who is surfer Giulia Manfrini as she passes away after being impaled by swordfish while surfing in Indonesia, cause of death, bio, age, family and boyfriend
In the local surfing community, age 36 Italian surfer Giulia Manfrini was well-known as a surf coach and the creator of the surf tour company AWAVE. She was dating boyfriend Massimo Ferro.
Giulia was well known in her community, where her family is well established as her mother is a general practitioner and her father a lawyer. Graduated in law, Giulia chose to pursue her passion for surfing after discovering it during an Erasmus in Spain, abandoning a career in snowboarding.
She had established her base in Indonesia, where she founded a travel agency, Awave, specializing in surf vacations and besides being a surf and freediving instructor, Giulia had established herself as an influencer.
Giulia Manfrini, la surfista e influencer italiana de 36 años, murió en Indonesia tras ser atacada por un pez espada mientras surfeaba. Todo sucedió en las aguas de la isla Pulau Masokut, situada cerca de Sumatra. El pez se incrustó en su pecho y no pudieron salvarla pic.twitter.com/eEmWUzDAiK
— EQC El Quid de la Cuestión (@QuidCuestion) October 20, 2024
Ms. Manfrini “touched countless people within the surf world” in Europe and around the world, according to James Colston, co-founder of AWAVE Travel.
“Her kindness, care and positivity were remembered by all that met her and she will be dearly missed,” he said.
Massimo Ferro and Alexandre Ribas, two of her friends, were in the area when the incident occurred. They hurried her to the Pei Pei Pasakiat Taileleu Health Center and administered first aid, but they were unable to rescue her.
According to medical reports, she displayed symptoms of drowning and had a wound to her chest that was five centimetres deep.
Giulia Manfrini’s obituary
The remains of Giulia Manfrini have been taken to Padang City and will be returned to Italy.
In a Facebook post, Fabio Giulivi, the mayor of Ms. Manfrini’s hometown of Venaria Reale, conveyed the community’s grief over her untimely passing and highlighted the support for her bereaved family.
“Giulia, just 36 years old and from Venaria, had long pursued her twin dreams: her love of surfing and opening a travel agency for sports holidays,” he wrote.
SURFER IMPALED BY SWORDFISH?! 🏄♀️🗡️
A freak accident in Indonesia claimed the life of Italian surfer Giulia Manfrini after a swordfish struck her in the chest. 😱 Witnesses say the fish leapt out of the water mid-wave, leading to the tragic accident. Could this have been… pic.twitter.com/4Vucva22PH
— Live Updates (@LiveupdatesUS) October 21, 2024
Although swordfish encounters are rare, prior study suggests that they can be dangerous if provoked. The accident’s particular circumstances serve as a reminder of the unpredictability of marine life and the dangers associated with water sports.
Australia and other countries send surfers to West Sumatra, which is a well-liked surfing hotspot but these kind of encounters are not common in the region.