Surfer, 36, Dies After Being Impaled By Swordfish in ‘Freak Accident’

An Italian woman is dead after she was impaled by a swordfish while surfing in Indonesia.

According to the BBC, The Standard, and Stab Magazine, Giulia Manfrini, 36, was surfing on Masokut Island in the Mentawai Islands when a swordfish leaped out of the water and stabbed her on the left side of her chest.

Two witnesses attempted to render aid to Manfrini before she was taken to a local medical center, where it was discovered that she had a five-centimeter-deep stab wound, the outlets reported.

Although her official cause of death has not been revealed, Stab Magazine reported, citing a medical, report that Manfrini’s nose was foaming after the incident, “suggesting oxygen deprivation from drowning.”

Manfrini’s death was confirmed in a Saturday, Oct. 19 statement on the AWAVE Travel Instagram page, a travel agency she helped establish in 2020, per her LinkedIn account.

“Giulia was surfing in remote Indonesia and suffered a freak accident. Unfortunately, even with the brave efforts of her partner, local resort staff and doctors, Giulia couldn’t be saved. We believe she died doing what she loved, in a place that she loved,” the announcement reads.

She is remembered as the company’s “lifeblood” and for having an “Infectious enthusiasm for surf, snow, and life.” Her passion for travel, as her LinkedIn explains, allowed her to visit over 45 countries, learn six languages, and live in six different countries and four continents.

“Giulia couldn’t travel without people falling in love with her smile, laugh and endless Stoke. Anyone was lucky to have her on board a charter or surf trip,” AWAVE Travel’s statement said.

Fabio Giulivi, the mayor of Manfrini’s hometown of Venaria Reale, paid tribute to her on Facebook.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“The entire Venarian community is gathering around Giulia Manfrini’s family. The news of her death has left us shocked and makes us feel powerless in front of the tragedy that took her life so prematurely. Giulia, from Venaria, only 36 years old, had long had her double dream of surfing, her favorite sport, and of opening a travel agency for sports holidays,” the translated statement reads.