
Italian surfer Giulia Manfrini, 36, lost her life after a swordfish struck her while she was surfing off Masokut Island, Indonesia, earlier this month. Manfrini, a surf guide and instructor was surfing in one of Sumatra’s popular surf spots when the freak encounter occurred.
Eyewitnesses say the swordfish suddenly breached the surface, impaling Manfrini in the chest. Despite immediate efforts from two nearby friends and a rush to a clinic, her injuries were fatal. Manfrini, originally from Venaria Reale in Italy, had a background in law but pivoted her life toward outdoor sports, first as a snowboarding coach, and later as a surfing instructor in Bali.
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Encounters like this are almost unheard of. Fatal swordfish attacks on humans are extremely rare, with few documented cases. In 2007, a fisherman met a similar fate when a swordfish pierced his eye in a tragic accident. Plans are now underway to bring Giulia’s body back to Italy.