Italian Surfer Dies After Bizarre Wildlife Encounter In The Ments

Giulia Manfrini was surfing at Beng Bengs, a fun left off Masokut Island in the Southwest Siberut district, on October 18, when she was tragically impaled by the sharp bill of a needlefish.

According to the Siberut Police, Manfrini signaled for help to two witnesses, also foreigners, who provided first aid and rushed her to the nearest Community Health Center. Unfortunately, despite their efforts, her life could not be saved. Medical examinations at the Pei Pei Pasakiat Taileleu Health Center revealed that she had suffered a stab wound about five centimeters deep in her upper left chest. The medical report also indicated that the victim’s nose was foaming, suggesting oxygen deprivation from drowning.

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This tragic event is not an isolated incident in the Indian Ocean. Marine biologist Antonio Di Natale explained, “It was likely an imperial needlefish, which is also found in the Mediterranean, though no attacks on humans have been recorded there.”

Di Natale added, “It’s often difficult to determine which fish is responsible in fatal cases, especially without witnesses. Swordfish attacks, for instance, leave flat cuts and have been documented in the Mediterranean since the 1500s. In the oceans, black marlin and imperial needlefish are also known to attack. The imperial needlefish has a rostrum that can reach 30 cm in length, and while rounded, it can be deadly when it strikes a human, particularly when these fish, which can weigh up to 30 kilos, leap out of the water.”

A similar incident occurred on December 6, 2023, when Italian surfer Alberto Marcon was impaled under his armpit by a needlefish off the coast of Sumbawa. He survived after undergoing surgery for a punctured lung.

In 2020, a 16-year-old boy fishing in Buton, Indonesia, was struck in the neck by a needlefish but also survived after surgery.

Manfrini’s death also brings to mind another tragedy earlier this year. In June, Eric Soreker, an experienced surfer and owner of a surf resort adjacent to Thunders, drowned while surfing Rags Left. His passing eerily coincided with the publication of Jed Smith’s article, 1,000 Ways to Die in Indonesia.

Born in Venaria Reale, Piedmont, Giulia Manfrini was a former professional snowboarder whose passion for surfing led her to live and work in countries such as Portugal, Spain, Indonesia, Australia, and Panama. She also co-founded an online travel company specializing in surf and snow experiences.

Stab would like to express our deepest sympathies to those affected.