Indonesian Female Surfer Dies After Being Stabbed in the Snout
'Gladiator of the Sea' Swordfish
Characterized by a Sharp, Long Snout
A female surfer in Indonesia died after being pierced in the chest by a marlin, known as the "Gladiator of the Sea."
According to the British BBC on the 21st (local time), Giulia Manfrini (36) from Turin, a city in northern Italy, was attacked by a marlin while surfing near the Mentawai Islands in Indonesia. Witnesses to the scene attempted emergency treatment on Manfrini, and she was rushed to a local emergency room but ultimately passed away.
An official from the Mentawai Islands Regional Disaster Management Agency said, "A marlin suddenly charged at Manfrini and pierced her chest." The marlin is a fish known as the "Gladiator of the Sea" because of its sharp, long snout that resembles a sword. It can grow up to 445 cm in length and weigh as much as 540 kg, making it a large fish species.
James Colston, a colleague who founded a travel agency with Manfrini, said on Instagram, "Manfrini experienced a bizarre accident," and added, "We believe she passed away doing what she loved in a place she loved." Fabio Zulivi, the mayor of Benaria Reale near Manfrini’s hometown of Turin, said, "The news of her death shocked us deeply." He added, "We felt powerless in the face of a tragedy that took a life too soon."
This is not the first fatal case caused by a marlin. In 2015, in Hawaii, USA, a fisherman who tried to catch a marlin was instead attacked and died. It is known that the fisherman was counterattacked while aggressively trying to catch the marlin. The Hawaii police warned, "Marlin is a very popular fish species here, but it has a fierce temperament," and added, "There are frequent reports of marlins attacking fishing boats, so caution is necessary."
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