Julia Manfrini, a 36-year-old Italian woman, was surfing near Masokut Island off the west coast of Sumatra. Suddenly, a swordfish leapt out of the water and struck the surfer in the chest.
Two other surfers witnessed the incident and tried to provide first aid, but she was already unconscious by then. The victim had a five-centimeter-deep stab wound in the upper left part of her chest. She was taken to a local hospital, but despite efforts, she could not be saved.
Her body will be sent to the port of Padang on the west coast of Sumatra, from where it will be repatriated to Italy. News of Julia’s death quickly spread across the internet. Her Instagram page was filled with condolences. Even the mayor of Venaria Reale, her hometown, expressed his sympathies.
In a 2019 interview with a website called The Salt Sirens, Julia said: “When it comes to surfing, I love the wild nature of Northern Sumatra - the rainforests there are so pristine and magnificent. I like sitting on the lineup with a few friends, listening only to the sounds of the jungle, and waiting for a set that I already know will be perfect and bring a few barrels.”
Fatal attacks by swordfish are extremely rare and highly unusual, even though it is a large and fast fish. Swordfish inhabit temperate and tropical waters around the world, can reach 4.5 meters in length, and weigh up to half a ton. Typically, these fish do not show aggression toward humans unless provoked.
The last similar incident occurred in 2015 off the coast of Hawaii. A 47-year-old fishing boat captain, Randy Llanes, jumped into the water to hook a fish with a gaff, but the swordfish struck him in the chest. By the time he was taken to the hospital, he was already dead. According to Hawaiian officials, the swordfish was about a meter long with a bill of roughly the same length.
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