An Argentinian man who went missing near the coast earlier this month was discovered inside the stomach of a shark.
His family members were able to identify him because of a distinguishing green and red rose tattoo on his arm.
Diego Alejandro Barria, 32, was last seen alive on February 18 while riding his all-terrain vehicle (ATV) near Argentina’s Southern Chubut Province’s coast.
The man did not return home that day, and his wrecked ATV was discovered a few days later on a Rocas Coloradas beach, with his helmet nearby but no sign of him.
Argentina’s police launched a thorough search for Barria, a father of three. His wife, Virginia Brugger, thanked everyone involved in the search for her husband and urged them to return him to her.
Six days later, three fishermen discovered something devastating. They caught three dogfish, a type of shark, while fishing near where the man’s ATV was recovered. They notified the coast guard that they had discovered human remains inside a shark’s stomach.
According to police officer Daniela Millatruz, who was in charge of the search, the remains were brought to a local morgue, where the family’s worst fears were confirmed. The family recognized the remains because of the distinctive tattoo on Barria’s arm, but DNA tests are required to confirm that the remains are actually his.
Only hours before the ghastly find, a pair of sunglasses identified as Barria’s were spotted on the shore.
Although the reason for his death has yet to be determined, Civil Protection spokesperson José Mazzei indicated that the police had two theories. The first idea was that Barria was somehow injured and ended up in the ocean, while the second was that he was knocked unconscious after an ATV accident and was dragged into the sea by severe tidal waves, which were observed in the area at the time of his disappearance.