A female Italian surfer, Giulia Manfrini, died after being impaled on the snout of a swordfish (Xiphias gladius).
“The information we received from the Southwest Siberut sub-district head was that there was an accident of an Italian foreigner while surfing,” said the Acting Head of the Mentawai Islands Regency Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), Lahmudin Siregar as reported by Antara, October 18, 2024.
Lahmudin said the unfortunate incident occurred when Manfrini was hunting for waves in Bengbeng Wave Waters, Masokut Island, Pasakiat Taileleu Village, Southwest Siberut Subdistrict, at around 9:30 a.m.
“Unexpectedly, a swordfish jumped at Manfrini and stuck her right in the chest,” Lahmudin said.
As Kompas reported, the italian surfer had asked for help by waving her hands to two witnesses, Alexandre Ribas and Massimo Ferro.
Both immediately provided first aid and took the victim to the Pei Pei Pasakiat Taileleu Health Center. However, the victim’s life could not be saved.
The results of the medical team’s examination at the Pei Pei Health Center showed that the Italian surfer suffered a stab wound to the upper left chest with a depth of about five centimetres.
The medical report stated that the victim’s nose was frothing, allegedly due to lack of oxygen due to drowning.
Deep stab wound to the left chest
According to the results of the medical team’s examination at the Pei Pei Health Center, the Italian surfer suffered a stab wound to the upper left chest with a depth of about five centimetres.
The medical report also stated that the victim’s nose was frothing, allegedly due to lack of oxygen due to drowning.
The accommodation that partnered with the two also uploaded a statement of condolence for the death of their ‘client and friend’.
Lihat postingan ini di Instagram
“We’ve been silent for the last few days in honour of a client and friend who died in a sad accident while surfing one of the friendliest waves in the region. She was hit in the chest by a needlefish and died almost immediately,” wrote Hidden Bay Resort Mentawais’ Instagram account on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
The body was repatriated to Italy
On Saturday, October 19, 2024, after the body was treated at Bhayangkara Hospital, the victim’s family agreed not to conduct an autopsy.
The body was at the Pei Pei Community Health Center and then taken by ship to Padang City to be delivered to her home country, Italy. The body was then handed over to the family to be flown to Italy by air.
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