Giulia Manfrini has died aged 36 after being fatally impaled by a swordfish in a freak incident.

The Italian adventure seeker was killed earlier this month while surfing at a popular surfing spot off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia.

The surfing lifestyle icon was making waves on Masokut Island in the Mentawai Archipelago when a swordfish jumped out of the water and pierced her in the chest, witnesses told news outlets.

According to The Standard, the Instagram influencer was said to have a 5 cm (1.96 inch) deep stab wound on the left side of her chest.

The surfers managed to get her to a local health clinic – the Pei Pei Pasakiat Taileleu Health Center – but she died shortly afterwards.

According to The Telegraph, Massimo Ferro and Alexandre Ribas were among those who tried to save their lives and administered first aid at the scene after witnessing the tragedy.

According to Siberut police, Manfrini had asked two witnesses at the scene for help.

Stabmag shared new details this week. When news reports emerged, the medical report suggested that her nose was foaming – a sign that she had suffered from oxygen deprivation due to drowning.

The news of the surfer's death shocked her hometown in Italy.

The mayor of Venaria Reale, Fabio Giulivi, paid tribute to the surfing coach, among others.

“The entire Venarian community gathers around Giulia Manfrini’s family,” Giulivi wrote on Instagram.

“The news of her death has shocked us and leaves us powerless in the face of the tragedy that took her life so early.”

Her Instagram page has been flooded with emotional tributes since the tragic news was shared.

One follower wrote: “The sea that gave you so much took your life. Rest in peace.”

Manfrini's former volleyball coach also wrote: “Our entire community in Portugal is heartbroken to learn of the sad news.

“She loved life and we spent (our) last evening (together) picking pomegranates and talking about making fig jam and what other fruits we would harvest together next year.

“She has become like my new Italian daughter and we will miss her.

“All we can say is how much she took from her short life and filled it completely.”

Surf charter operator Naga Laut Mentawai Blue also wrote on social media: “She felt deep love and exuberant enthusiasm for life.

“RIP our beautiful, kind, always smiling and happy friend,” it said.

Manfrini was a former professional snowboarder and traveled the world as an extreme sports junkie.

She studied law at university, but her life took a different turn when she took a job as a surf instructor.

Manfrini shared her journey on social media with a series of photos and videos from her time in and out of surfing, amassing a following of 24,000 fans on Instagram.

She also co-founded an online travel company specializing in surf and snow experiences.

According to The Standard, her body is currently being transported back to Italy.