Woman eaten by shark after being swept out to sea while on dream diving vacation

A US woman is feared to have been eaten by a shark after being swept out to sea while on her dream vacation.

68-year-old Colleen Monfore had long been looking forward to her diving vacation in Indonesia.

She travelled with six pals to the Pacific nation's Pulau Reong island on 26 September ready for a fun time.

But things quickly took a tragic turn as the woman from South Dakota was pulled away by strong currents.

Neither her group nor her guide were able to pull her back on the boat, so rescue teams were ultimately deployed.

The 68-year-old was swept away by strong currents (Asia Pacific Press via Viral Press)

That search proved unsuccessful and it was called off on October 3 after an eight-day mission.

Officials ultimately called it off because there of a low chance of finding Colleen, alongside dangerous sea conditions.

Further investigation has found that Colleen has likely been eaten by a shark after a fisherman from the neighboring East Timor caught a shark on October 6, three days after the search was called off.

Upon further investigation, the fisherman found human remains in the shark's belly.

"The shark was caught but it was not in normal health. I thought it had swallowed plastic or a fishing net," he said.

"It was cut open to find the problem and inside there were the remains of a woman."

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.

A fisherman caught a shark and found human remains inside it (Asia Pacific Press via Viral Press)

"We are now investigating the case further to confirm if they are the remains of anyone reported missing in Indonesia."

Officials from the nearby East Timor remain in contact with the Indonesian coast guard and are asking for anyone who may have information on the case or any similar ones in the surrounding area to come forward.

It was confirmed the human remains found in the shark had been wearing a diving suit and were that of a 'foreign female'.

The body has not yet been formally identified.

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."