A 36-year-old Italian surfer tragically died after being impaled by a swordfish while surfing in Indonesian waters.
Giulia Manfrini, a surfer from Turin, was reportedly struck in the chest b a swordfish on Friday while surfing in the Mentawai Islands, located in West Sumatra Province. This area is a well-known surfing spot, famous for its stunning waters and challenging waves.
Manfrini was a beloved surfer and former snowboarder who co-founded AWAVE Travel, a travel agency that allowed her to fulfill her dream of blending her love for surfing and travel.
James Colston, who set up a travel agency with Manfrini, said on Instagram : “Even with the brave efforts of her partner, local resort staff and doctors, Giulia couldn’t be saved.”
Lahmudin Siregar, acting head of the Mentawai Islands’ Disaster Management Agency, said, The swordfish “unexpectedly jumped towards Manfrini and pierced her chest”.
“The information we received from the Head of Southwest Siberut District was that an accident occurred with an Italian citizen while surfing,” Mr Siregar told news agency Antara.
The swordfish inflicted a two-inch deep wound, and despite being rushed to a nearby clinic, Manfrini sadly passed away shortly after.
Mr Colston called it “a freak accident” and said that “we believe she died doing what she loved, in a place that she loved”.
“Giulia was the lifeblood of this company and her infectious enthusiasm for surf, snow and life will be remembered by all that came in contact with her,” he said.
Her unexpected death has devastated her 22,000 Instagram followers, where she frequently posted about her surfing adventures. Tributes have poured in from her colleagues and Fabio Giulivi, the mayor of her hometown, Venaria Reale.
Mr Giulivi said: “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.”
One of her fans on Instagram wrote: “You surfed life and travelled the world doing what you loved most. Live enjoying life to the fullest and die doing what you love most.”
Her unexpected death has devastated her 22,000 Instagram followers, where she frequently posted about her surfing adventures. Tributes have poured in from her colleagues and Fabio Giulivi, the mayor of her hometown, Venaria Reale.
Manfrini was affectionately nicknamed “Surf Frother” by her fellow surfers because of her boundless energy and passion for the sport.
Her passing comes shortly after another tragedy in the surfing community. In late September, surfer Jorge Alvarado died from a fatal head injury while surfing in Daytona Beach, Florida.
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