A surfer died in an unusual incident in Indonesia after been impaled by a swordfish.
Giulia Manfrini, 36, was riding a wave when the swordfish leapt out of the water and struck her in the chest, according to witnesses.
The incident happened on Masokut Island, a favourite spot with surfers off the west coast of Sumatra.
Massimo Ferro and Alexandre Ribas who were nearby tried to save her, according to local media.
She reportedly had a five-centimetre deep stab wound on the left side of her chest.
The surfer was taken to a local health clinic but could not be saved.
A string of tributes were paid to her on her instagram account.
One wrote: “The sea, that gave you so much, has taken your life. Rest in peace”.
Another wrote: “I just heard the dreadful news. RIP.”
Manfrini was a law graduate from the town of Venaria Reale, where her father was a lawyer and her mother a GP.
Fabio Giulivi, the mayor of her home town, said: “The whole community offers its condolences to her family.
“The news of her de@th has shocked us all, we feel helpless in the face of a tragedy that cut short her life so prematurely.”
Manfrini graduated in law but had initially worked as a snowboarding coach.
She then learned surfing and moved to Bali, where she worked as a surfing instructor.
Officials planned to transport her body by boat to the port of Padang from where it would be repatriated to Italy.
