US woman’s dream trip to Indonesia ends in tragedy as shark devours her after strong currents sweep her away
Representational image of sharks in the ocean.
A 68-year-old American tourist, Colleen Monfore from South Dakota, lost her life after being swept away by strong currents during a diving trip in Indonesia. Her remains were later found inside a shark, caught by a fisherman in East Timor on Sunday (Oct 07), following her disappearance on 26 September.
Monfore had been diving with a group of six friends near Pulau Reong island when she was pulled away by powerful currents. Despite efforts from the boat's guide, she could not be rescued in time.
The fisherman who caught the shark said, “The shark was caught but it was 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.”
Local authorities confirmed that the remains were dressed in a black wetsuit. Muhammad Saleh Goro, head of the Regional Technical Implementation Unit for the Management of the Alor Island Marine Park, stated, “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. The anecdotal reports from Timor Leste are that the victim in the shark was foreign female,” he added.
(With inputs from agencies)
