The surfing community and countless fans are mourning after the sudden death of Italian surfing icon and influencer Giulia Manfrini, who was tragically killed by a swordfish while surfing in Indonesia.
The 36 year old star met her untimely demise off the coast of Masokut Island, a hotspot known for its breathtaking vistas and challenging surf, earlier this month. Local reports disclosed that while surfing, Manfrini was struck by a swordfish that burst out from the sea, impaling her in the chest with a wound two inches deep.
Despite being rushed to a local health clinic, the severity of her injury led to her death shortly after the incident. Giulia’s passing has sent ripples of shock and grief through her community and among her 22,000 Instagram followers.
An ex-professional snowboarder, she had co-founded AWAVE Travel, a venture aimed at helping adventurers seeking to explore surfing and snowboarding worldwide. Social media has been flooded with poignant tributes, with admirers paying homage to her life.
One moving tribute stated: “You surfed life and traveled the world doing what you loved most. Live enjoying life to the fullest and die doing what you love most.”
Giulia, renowned for her fervent love of nature and extreme sports, gained the endearing moniker “surf frother” from her fellow wave riders. An inspiration to many aspiring athletes, she dedicated herself to coaching, spurring on others to take up surfing with zeal and crafting opportunities through her enterprise for newcomers to celebrate their progress in the sport, reports the Mirror.
Her untimely passing has shone a light on the hazards tied to daring aquatic activities. Though incidents with swordfish are exceedingly uncommon, Giulia’s accident has sent ripples through the international surf community as they grapple with the loss of one of their cherished members.
Known for living fearlessly in the face of the inherent dangers of surfing, Giulia embraced every wave until her final, fateful ride. The tragedy unfolded merely a month after the death of Jorge Alvarado. In late September, the surfer met his demise due to a lethal head trauma sustained while surfing in Daytona Beach, Florida.
