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36-year-old Italian surfer Giulia Manfrini has died after being pierced in the chest by the bill of a swordfish while surfing in the waters off the Mentawai Islands, West Sumatra.
According to Lahmudin Siregar, the interim head of the Mentawai Disaster Mitigation Agency, the incident occurred at approximately 9:30 a.m. local time in the Bengbeng surfing area on Masokut Island. The Italian surfer was riding the waves when a swordfish unexpectedly leapt towards her and struck her in the chest. She immediately called for help by raising her hands, and two foreign surfers who were with her during the session, Alexandre Ribas and Massimo Ferro, quickly intervened, first bringing her to shore and then rushing her to the Pei Pei Pasakiat Taileleu Community Health Center. Unfortunately, their efforts were not enough to save her life.
According to the results of the examination carried out by the medical team at the Pei Pei Health Center, the Piedmontese surfer sustained a cut wound to the upper left side of her chest, approximately five centimeters deep. The medical report also noted that foam was coming from the victim’s nose, likely due to a lack of oxygen caused by drowning.
The victim’s body is currently still at the Pei Pei Community Health Center and is expected to be transported by boat to the city of Padang before being repatriated to Italy.
Giulia Manfrini, 36 years old, was originally from the Piedmont region of Italy. She was well-known in the Italian surfing community and had a strong following on social media. A few years ago, she left Italy and founded a travel agency specializing in sports vacations, both at sea and in the mountains. Many condolences have been posted on her Instagram account. “A shocking piece of news, rest in peace Giulia,” one message read. Another added, “Your smile will never be forgotten.”
This incident follows the death of another foreign surfer, American Erick Robert Soreker, in June 2024 under similar circumstances in Pagai Selatan. He, too, was struck by a swordfish. Last December, Italian surfer Alberto Marcon was pierced by a needlefish, a smaller relative of the swordfish, causing internal bleeding and a collapsed lung, but he survived.
