An Italian surfer has died after being impaled in the chest by a sharp-billed fish while surfing off Indonesia's West Sumatra coast. According to the Indonesian news agency Antara, Giulia Manfrini, 36, of northern Italy, was in the water in Mentawai Islands Regency, an area that draws surfers from around the world.

Lahmudin Siregar, acting head of the Mentawai Islands disaster management agency, said Manfrini was struck in the chest by a swordfish while surfing off the southern part of Siberut Island around 9:30 a.m. local time, according to state news agency Antara. "The information we received from the Head of Southwest Siberut District was that an accident occurred with an Italian citizen while surfing," Lahmudin Siregar, acting head of the Mentawai Islands Regency Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), reportedly told news agency Antara.

According to a medical report, she suffered a stab wound to the upper left chest with a depth of about five centimetres, the agency said. He added: "Unexpectedly, a swordfish jumped towards Manfrini and stuck her right in the chest". Mr Colston said his former colleague had suffered "a freak accident", adding that "we believe she died doing what she loved, in a place that she loved". "Giulia was the lifeblood of this company and her infectious enthusiasm for surf, snow and life will be remembered by all that came in contact with her," he said. Manfrini reportedly signaled for help and was brought to a local medical center by two witnesses who also performed first aid. She did not survive. Her official cause of death has not yet been released.

The resort where Manfrini was staying at the time said she died in a “sad accident while surfing one of the friendliest waves in the region.” Manfrini co-founded the U.K.-based company Awave, a travel agency centred around surfing. In a post to social media, Manfrini’s business partner said she suffered a “freak accident” but “died doing what she loved, in a place that she loved.” Swordfish attacks are sporadic, research suggests, but are not entirely unheard of. It is unclear if this swordfish attacked Manfrini, or if she surfed into the animal. As the name implies, a swordfish’s bill has incredibly sharp edges like its namesake weapon. The species uses its bill to catch food by slashing side to side to cut apart prey, or likely for defence.