A US tourist on a dream diving holiday is believed dead after parts of a woman’s body were found inside the stomach of a shark in Indonesia.
Colleen Monfore, 68, was with six friends exploring the ocean around Pulau Reong island on September 26 when she was dragged away by strong currents.
The diving group’s guide was unable to pull her back on the boat, prompting a search for the tourist, which lasted for eight days before being called off.
Last week a fisherman in Timor-Leste, some 75 miles away from where Monfore went missing, captured and killed a shark after seeing it “in obvious distress.”
Inside its stomach were body parts of a woman’s body, as well as parts of her wetsuit and bathing suit.
While there were reports that the body parts had been identified as Monfore’s, authorities said they were still trying to determine whether they may have belonged to another missing person.
Officials in East Timor are contacting the coast guard in Indonesia. They also appealed for details of anyone with missing friends or relatives due to the popularity of diving in the nearby islands, that are Indonesian territory.
Muhammad Saleh Goro, Head of the Regional Technical Implementation Unit (UPTD) for the Management of the Alor Islands Marine Park and surrounding ocean, said: “We have coordinated with the Indonesian Embassy (KBRI) in Dili, and the KBRI has confirmed the truth of this information.
“The body of the woman was found in a shark in Timor Leste. It was not in Indonesian territory. We are now investigating the case further to confirm if they are the remains of anyone reported missing in Indonesia.
“From the diving suit worn by the victim, it is suspected that they were a diver. The results of the investigation will be published soon after more complete information is available.”
However, people identifying as friends of Monfore have warned against misinformation that she was killed and eaten by the shark.
On Facebook, Kim Sass, a diver who claims to have been friends with Monfore, said that evidence accrued by investigators showed that the claims of a shark attack were “false.”
Sass pointed out that sharks’ stomachs are adapted for rapid digestion, with strong acids that help to break down food into smaller particles.
Despite this, Monfore’s body, and fingerprints were apparently still…
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