The tragedy took place on Friday morning near the island of Pulau Sipura, about 120 kilometers from the west coast of Sumatra. “Two other surfers immediately helped her to the shore and took her to the medical center. But the wound was too serious, nothing could be done,” said Lahmudin Siregar, head of the local office for managing crisis situations, according to Gazzetta.
The sword inflicted a wound on the left side of the tourist’s chest to a depth of about five centimeters. The woman succumbed to her injuries while still in the medical center.
The Italian Giulia Manfrini was a big fan of surfing and winter sports. She was well known in the Italian surfer community, very active on social networks and co-founded a travel agency that offers sports holidays on the sea and in the snow.
She was originally engaged in snowboarding, but after an injury she switched to surfing and became its instructor.
🚨 GRAVE! Surfista italiana morre apos attack de peixe-espada, em Mentawai, na Indonesia.
Giulia Manfrini, de 36 anos, também era influenciadora; ela foi socorrida, mas não resistiu aos ferimentos pic.twitter.com/BvkZe6nFhi
— FUTRIKEI (@futrikeiof) October 19, 2024
The swordfish is a predatory fish found in moderately warm to tropical seas. It rarely approaches the coast.
It usually grows to a length of one to two meters and moves at a speed of 60 kilometers per hour. For a short distance it can be up to 110 km/h.
The Mentawai islands, which include Pulau Sipura, are a sought-after destination for surfers.