Tourist 'eaten by shark' after being swept away from boat on dream holiday

An American tourist is feared to have been eaten by a shark while on holiday in Indonesia.

68-year-old Colleen Monfore travelled with six friends to the Pacific nation's Pulau Reong island on 26 September for a diving holiday.

However, the South Dakota woman was dragged away by strong currents and neither her group nor her guide were able to pull her back on board the boat.

Rescue teams were sent out to try and find the 68-year-old but were called off on 3 October after eight days of searching as conditions at sea were dangerous and it as decided that there would be a low chance of finding her.

Sadly, Colleen is suspected to have been eaten by a shark after a fisherman from the neighbouring country of East Timor caught a shark on 6 October and found human remains in its belly.

The 68-year-old tourist is feared dead after she was swept away while swimming. (Asia Pacific Press via Viral Press)

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."

East Timor officials are in contact with the Indonesian coast guard and are asking for anyone who has details about people who went missing in the nearby seas.

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."

A fisherman caught a shark and found human remains inside it, leading to fears that it ate the 68-year-old. (Asia Pacific Press via Viral Press)

They confirmed that the human remains found in the shark had been wearing a diving suit and that more information would be released as they learned it during their investigation.

Officials said: "The anecdotal reports from Timor Leste are that the victim in the shark was foreign female."

The identity of the victim inside the shark that was caught has not yet been confirmed.

Colleen Monfore was first reported missing by her friends, who also carried out the initial search efforts to find her.

Ipda Giovani BM Toffy, the chief of police in Southwest Maluku, said: " We coordinated with the Nabar Village Government to mobilise residents to help search the coast facing Reong Island and conduct searches around the waters of Reong Island using long boats or speed boats, but the victim has not been found."