For one of the first times ever in history, a swordfish has killed a human, as a 36-year-old Italian woman was fatally impaled by one while surfing in Indonesia.


Giulia Manfrini, a surfing influencer and co-founder of surfing-based travel company AWAVE, was visiting the Mentawai Islands Regency to shred the gnar when she was struck “squarely in the chest” by a swordfish, according to Lahmudin Siregar, acting head of the Mentawai Islands’ Disaster Management Agency.



Two witnesses saw Manfrini signaling for help in the water and provided first aid before taking her to a local medical center. But the efforts weren’t enough, as Manfrini died from the freak injury.


“Unfortunately, even with the brave efforts of her partner, local resort staff and doctors, Giulia couldn’t be saved,” AWAVE co-founder James Colston wrote in an Instagram post. “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.”



Given their name, it should come as no shock that swordfish are quite dangerous. They are known for killing sharks with their sharp, pointed bill. Su Nan-Jay, an associate professor at National Taiwan Ocean University who specializes in fishery studies, told NBC News that being stabbed by a swordfish is especially dangerous because their bills contain bacteria that can lead to serious infections.


“Their snout is like a real sword,” he explained. “If it stabs, it goes very deep, and it could even slice through, leaving a large wound.”


But unlike sharks, swordfish aren’t known for attacking humans. In fact, it may come as a surprise that this appears to be one of the only human fatalities caused by swordfish ever recorded. Per a 2007 report from the National Institutes of Health there have been “very few reports of swordfish attacks on humans and none have resulted in death.”


And in the 17 years since that report was published, I was only able to find one other example of a swordfish encounter resulting in the death of someone, and the circumstances were less of an accident and more of an aquatic tussle gone wrong. In 2015, Randy Llanes was killed by a swordfish in Hawaii after he jumped into the water to try and spearfish the aquatic predator.


Of course, a historic death is still, ultimately, a death and the end of Manfrini’s life will be remembered as a tragedy for all of those who knew her.


“We love you Giulia,” Colston wrote. “I am so sorry to say goodbye.”