"I love sitting in the lineup with a few friends, listening to the sounds of the jungle, and waiting for waves I know will be perfect."
An Italian surfer, Guilia Manfrini, who sure did seem to be living her best life, as they say, is dead after being impaled by a swordfish’s long sharp bill while surfing in the Ments in western Sumatra.
Giulia Manfrini, who was thirty-six, was riding a wave near Pulau Masokut island, a jumping off point to some of the Mentawais’ best waves, when the swordfish jumped out of the water and hit her in the chest, its bill driving five cm into her heart.
Despite first aid efforts of two other surfers, Massimo Ferro and Alexandre Ribas, and being rushed to a nearby medical clinic the woman couldn’t be saved.
If you want to judge by her Instagram account, Turin-born Giulia had been having a helluva time the past few years.
She was a ski and snowboard instructor turned “surf travel expert”, lived in Bali although she was a qualified lawyer, was an ISA Level 2 Surf Coach and Surf Apnea Survival Instructor, carried a perpetual tan and was rarely photographed without revealing rows of snowy teeth.
In a 2019 interview, when she was asked about the best country she’d ever visited Manfrini said,
“Well, every place has left something in my heart. Surfing wise, I love the wilderness of North Sumatra–the rainforest there is so primordial and gorgeous! I love sitting in the line up with few friends, listening only to the sounds of the jungle, and waiting for a set which I already know will be perfect and will deliver some barrels.”
Her favourite wave, she said, was Nias.
“I love that wave so much, I could surf it every day for hours. It’s such a technical wave, but still pretty safe since it breaks in deep water. It works with every tide, size and (always light) winds! You can get barrelled, cutback, turn! So playful!”
Guilia’s last Instagram post was back in April when she wrote “Out of office. Back in two weeks.” Her account has been flooded with over 1000 messages of condolences.
View this post on Instagram
As for death by swordfish, well, it happens.
Randy Llanes, a Hawaii fisherman, died in 2015 after being impaled by a swordfish he had speared. This event was noted for its rarity and the fact that Llanes had predicted he might die in the ocean or while fishing.
8. Diver gets attacked by a swordfish at 220m (721 feet) below the surface.pic.twitter.com/gyCZxGaLXK
— Wolf of X (@tradingMaxiSL) October 18, 2024
Don’t like seeing babes go down random like that. Or ever.
Needlefish got her.
Likely Tylosurus crocodilus- crocodile needlefish AKA Indo-Pacific longtom.
It could have been either swordfish or needlefish. In this video a needlefish attacks swimmer (likely attracted by the shinny reflection of the mask which is what they are known for).
Needle fish attack
Needlefish https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
For whom the bell tolls.
*Atolls
Sounds like a Life well lived. Some people have all the luck….
ahh…the peaceful unnerving ocean.
https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
Would appear it was a needlefish not a swordfish which makes way more sense and is a fear I’ve had many times surfing warm waters. Those bastards are voracious and they spook super easy sending them shooting like a bullet right at or above the water level. Had one go right over my legs one time sitting on my board in Mexico and on that same beach i met a guy who got hit in the collar bone by one and it looked like he had got shot the scar was so nasty.
Just looked up ISA surf coach levels. Level one: “Paddle, paddle, paddle”. Level two: “Stand up!”
—She was a ski and snowboard instructor turned “surf travel expert”, lived in Bali although she was a qualified lawyer, was an ISA Level 2 Surf Coach and Surf Apnea Survival Instructor—
This kind of harry potteresque talk wasn’t allowed in the surf community in the time of true surf bums. Who the/What the actual f!? She just would have been someone nice to enjoy between surf sessions on a trip…now she actually list these demonic pursuits as a brand/identity!? Yeah, the Ocean has it’s own version of how shit goes…
At least she died doing what she loved.
Respect and condolences to all feeling her lost.
Died while being speared by a swordfish?
Curious choice.
I hope her influencer career benefits from her commitment , can’t for updates.
Poor girl, and her friends and family also, just awful.
Crikey!
https://youtu.be/wycjnCCgUes?si=iO3tCM0YKoPUR4qw
Pretty extreme way to stake your claim in the ments
No joke about this will be “too soon”.
Not the first (or last) hot European lady to be “impaled by a sword” in Indonesia I’d warrant
I hate to use imports when I travel. But, it seems these pommies and Aussie chics seem to be in just about EVERY location. If the locals aren’t cutting it, always can settle for these ones with the speech impediment.
You live by the swordfish you die by the swordfish.
https://youtu.be/eZ5VURdBADk?si=J_f4Lf6fD1SuRNYE
Beat me to it
Slayer! Epic album
THIS is the wisdom that brings me to BG at least 3 times per week.
Forget sharks Derek. Time to step up and promote something truly beneficial for humankind. Kill the fucking swordfish! #theoceanisforsurfers
Hey DP. Just watched children of men again. Oh man. Just be happy you can bust a nut and a seed can be planted. When the women go infertile the end is near……although I have had friends who have planted a seed and that was the end for them.
You know things are getting edgy when the Swordfish start coming after humans
Bugger.