According to a report by People Network on October 9, 68-year-old Col·leen Monfore (Colleen Monfore) is from Michigan, United States, and she went to Indonesia vacation with friends in September.
It all started on September 26, when Colleen and her friends were diving in the waters near the island of Phu Rang, but Colleen was unfortunately swept away by the current. Eventually, their guide had no choice but to sail back to shore with her friend. Rescuers searched for eight days to no avail, and eventually gave up.
Unexpectedly, the turning point came on Sunday, October 6, when a fisherman caught a shark in Timor-Leste.
"The shark was caught, but it was not in normal health. I thought it had swallowed plastic or fishing nets. The fisherman told the media via email that when the shark was cut open, he was horrified to find that the problem was --- that there was a female body in the shark's stomach.
It is also reported that a black wetsuit containing the remains of the victim was also found in the shark's stomach.
A United States State Department spokesperson said on October 9 that they "noted reports of the death of a United States citizen off the coast of Indonesia."
"We express our sincerest condolences for the loss of the families and are providing all appropriate consular assistance." The spokesperson added, "We have no further comment out of respect for the privacy of the family during this difficult time." ”
However, the Indonesian police did not respond to People's request for more information, and authorities have not officially confirmed whether the remains found in the shark belonged to Colin or someone else.
"The woman's body was found in a shark in Timor-Leste. It is not on the territory of Indonesia. We are now investigating the cases further to confirm whether they are the remains of someone who has been reported missing in Indonesia. A local official told the outlet.
However, Colleen's husband doesn't believe his wife is being devoured by a shark. "She used to be a great diver," he said. I don't believe it was the diving environment, and certainly not the shark that ended her life. ”
Colleen and her husband are reported to have met in high school in South Dakota, moving from school uniforms to wedding dresses, and the couple has two children and four grandchildren. Both love to travel the world.
"We used to call her 'St. Colin.'" Colleen's wife told the outlet: "She's an amazing woman. She loves nature and animals. I know she never wants the shark to be responsible for this tragedy. ”
It is reported that although it may take several days for a shark to fully digest "a meal", the shark's stomach produces a stomach acid sufficient to dissolve the metal, and it is difficult to explain why a body appeared in the shark's stomach due to the small size of the shark's intestinal opening, which prevents large bones and other indigestible objects from passing through the stomach. The cause is currently under investigation.