Surfer killed by swordfish in Indonesia

Surfer dies after being stung by swordfish in Indonesia.

Giulia Manfrini, 36, of Turin, Italy, was in the water in the Mentawai Islands on Friday when she was stabbed by the beak of a swordfish, according to local reports.

“Unexpectedly, a swordfish leapt at Manfrini and stabbed him [the bill] right in the tourist’s chest,” acting head of the Mentawai Islands Disaster Management Agency Lahmudin Siregar told Indonesian news agency Antara.

Local police told the agency that the surfer and travel agent attracted the attention of two witnesses, who were also foreign nationals, by waving for help, who took her to a nearby clinic, where she was pronounced dead.

The region where Ms Manfrini was attacked is known to be popular with surfers.

James Colston, who co-founded the travel agency AWAVE Travel with Ms Manfrini, wrote on the company’s Instagram page: “It is with the deepest sadness that I have to announce the passing of Julia Manfrini, one of the co-founders of AWAVE Travel.

“Julia was surfing in remote Indonesia and had a freak accident. Unfortunately, even with the valiant efforts of her partner, local resort staff and doctors, Julia could not be saved. We believe she died doing what she loved in a place she loved.”

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Mr Colston said Ms Manfrini’s “infectious enthusiasm for surf, snow and life will be remembered by all who came in contact with her” and that she “cannot travel without people falling in love with her smile, laughter and endless melting’.

Tributes have been pouring in on Ms Manfrini’s personal Instagram page, which has more than 27,000 followers.

Although there are few reports of swordfish attacks on humans, research shows that they can be extremely dangerous when provoked.