SIOUX FALLS S.D. (KELO) — The body of a South Dakota woman, who was reported missing last month off the coast of Indonesia, is believed to have been found inside the stomach of a shark.
London-based newspaper The Sun reported the body of 68-year-old Colleen Monfore, of South Dakota, was found inside the stomach of a shark. According to the report published on Monday, Monfore was on a diving boat trip with six friends around the Pulau Reong island when on September 26, she was dragged away by the strong currents and was unable to be pulled back in.
The Sun reported that rescue teams searched for eight days, before finally giving up on October 3.
On Sunday, The Sun reports a fisherman in the neighboring country of Timor-Leste found human remains, which are believed to be Monfore, in the belly of a shark. The body of the woman was found in a shark in Timor-Leste, which is not an Indonesian territory.
The Pulau Reong island is located northeast of Indonesia, while Timor-Leste is located southeast of Indonesia.
“Officials in the Liquisa District said the female corpse was still wearing a black wet suit and appeared to be that of a Western woman,” The Sun story said.
The Sun report quoted the fisherman who caught the shark and said the shark appeared to be “not in normal health.”
“I thought it had swallowed plastic or a fishing net. It was cut open to find the problem and inside there were the remains of a woman,” the fisherman who caught the shark is quoted saying to The Sun.
The Sun reported that Muhammad Saleh Goro, Head of the Regional Technical Implementation Unit (UPTD) for the Management of the Alor Islands Marine Park and surrounding ocean, said they have coordinated with the Indonesian Embassy (KBRI) in Dili, and the KBRI has confirmed the truth of this information.
Goro said that they are now investigating the case further to confirm if they are the remains of anyone reported missing in Indonesia. Goro added the results of the investigation will be published soon after more complete information is available.
According to the Florida Museum, there have only been 11 confirmed unprovoked shark attacks from 1580 to the present in Indonesia.