22-10-2024 (JAKARTA) An Italian surfer has lost her life in a freak encounter with a swordfish off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. Giulia Manfrini, a 36-year-old adventurer and entrepreneur, met her untimely demise while pursuing her passion in the waters near Masokut Island in the Mentawai Islands Regency.
The tragic event unfolded on Friday, 18 October, in an area known as Ombak Bengbeng, a popular spot among surf enthusiasts. According to Lahmudin Siregar, the acting head of the Mentawai Islands’ regional disaster management agency, the incident occurred without warning. “Unexpectedly, a swordfish jumped towards Manfrini and struck her directly in the chest,” Siregar told the Indonesian news agency Antara.
Eyewitnesses report that Manfrini, despite her grave injury, managed to signal for help. Two bystanders rushed to her aid, providing immediate first aid before swiftly transporting her to the Pei Pei Pasakiat Taileleu Health Centre. Despite their valiant efforts, medical professionals were unable to save her life.
The medical report reveals the severity of the incident, detailing a 5cm-deep wound in Manfrini’s upper left chest, coupled with signs of drowning. This unusual combination of injuries underscores the extraordinary nature of the accident.
As news of the tragedy spread, conflicting reports emerged regarding the species of fish involved. While initial accounts pointed to a swordfish, a local resort later suggested that a needlefish might have been responsible, as reported by Australian news outlet 9News. This discrepancy highlights the rarity of such incidents and the challenges in accurately identifying marine life in the heat of the moment.
Manfrini’s passing has elicited an outpouring of grief from her hometown of Venaria Reale in Italy. The city’s mayor, Fabio Giulivi Sindacoe, expressed the community’s shock in a heartfelt Facebook post. “The news of her death has left us shocked and makes us feel powerless in the face of the tragedy that took her life so prematurely,” he wrote, offering condolences to Manfrini’s family and friends.
The Italian surfer was more than just an enthusiast; she had turned her passion into a profession. Her LinkedIn profile identified her as a co-founder of AWAVE Travel, a surf travel agency, and a freelance surf instructor certified by the International Surfing Association. Manfrini had successfully merged her love for surfing with entrepreneurship, realising what Mayor Sindacoe described as her “dual dream”.
James Colston, Manfrini’s business partner and co-founder of AWAVE Travel, paid tribute to her on the company’s Instagram page. “Giulia was surfing in remote Indonesia and suffered a freak accident,” he wrote, adding poignantly, “We believe she died doing what she loved, in a place that she loved.” Colston’s words paint a picture of a woman whose zest for life and passion for surfing were infectious, touching all who knew her.
