Italian surfer Giulia Manfrini dies after being speared by needlefish in Indonesia

Giulia Manfrini from Venaria Reale, Italy, was surfing off the Masokut Island when she got struck by the needlefish on Friday, October 18.

Needlefish are known for making short jumps out of the water at up to 60 km/h (37 mph) and their sharp beaks are capable of inflicting deep puncture wounds, often breaking off inside the victim. In Pacific Island fishing communities needlefish injuries are more common than attacks by sharks.

The dramatic scene where the woman was fatally injured was witnessed by her friends, who immediately helped her and brought her to shore. The 36-year-old woman was immediately given first aid and transported to the Pei Pei Community Health Centre.

But she had sustained a deadly five-centimetre-deep wound in the upper left part of her chest and doctors could not save her despite their best efforts. Giulia was declared dead shortly after arrival.

According to the head of the local emergency services, Lahmudin Siregar, the fish "unexpectedly jumped towards her and struck her in the chest."

Despite initial reports saying the fish that struck Giulia was a swordfish, marine biologist Franco Andaloro has since clarified that it was actually an imperial needlefish, which is similar to a swordfish but significantly smaller in size. The imperial needlefish, also known by its common name Marlin, shares many characteristics with the swordfish.

It is a large fish that can exceed 50kg (whereas a swordfish can be up to 400kg), and its upper jaw forms an elongated bill.

According to Andaloro, the circumstances that led to Giulia's death are very unusual, even when looking at past reports.

He said: "These are rare cases. In fact, when they happen, it makes the news. Just like in 2014 in Brazil, when a man was pierced by a swordfish, or in 2015 in Hawaii."

The bill, or "sword," used by these fish is primarily for stunning their prey, not for piercing, as the expert explained.

Andaloro said: "The sword is used by the animal to stun its prey, not to impale it. Otherwise, it wouldn’t even be able to eat it."

He also said that more information is needed to precisely determine the circumstances surrounding the incident. One hypothesis is that the fish felt threatened, as Andaloro added: "We can speculate. We know of cases where surfers have been attacked by sharks. While paddling on a surfboard to catch a wave, the surfer may appear to the animal below like a seal. The shadow might be mistaken for a threat."

Giulia's body will be repatriated to Italy after being transported by sea to Padang.

Fabio Giulivi, the mayor of Venaria Reale, Giulia's hometown, said in a statement: "The entire community expresses its condolences to the family. The news of her death has shocked us all, and we feel powerless in the face of a tragedy that took her life so prematurely."

Giulia was a very well-known figure in the Italian surfing community. She had cultivated her passion for surfing and snowboarding from a young age, having taken up the sport when she was just 15. Before that, she had won several awards with her snowboard, and later it became the surfboard.

This love of surfing led her to move constantly. For some time, she had chosen Portugal as her base to train with the highest waves in Europe, but she often spent time in Southeast Asia, where she also worked as a surf instructor in Bali.

In an interview a few years ago, Giulia reportedly said: "When it comes to surfing, I adore the wild nature of North Sumatra: the rainforest there is so primal and beautiful.

"I love sitting with a few friends, listening only to the sounds, and waiting for the moment that I already know will be perfect and bring me satisfaction."

She had tried to turn her passion into a career and share it with others by opening two agencies specialising in sports travel, either in the snow or by the sea.

Her family members said: "The only consolation is that she left us doing what she loved."

Story: NewsX