Chewed-up human remains in a shark’s stomach have been identified as a 32-year-old man who had been missing for eight days.

Horrified fishermen found the remains while they were gutting a five-feet long dogfish shark caught off the coast of Comodoro Rivadavia area, Chubut, Argentina.

Victim Diego Barria was – reported local media – only identifiable by a green and red rose tattoo.

He had disappeared on 18th February and was last seen riding his quad bike cross country.

When he failed to come home his family called police to report him missing.

They found his helmet and smashed bike but no sign of the body.

It was not until 26th February that the grim discovery of some of his remains inside a shark was made.

Police say the fishermen found “dermis, fat and human meat”.

Criminal investigators transferred the remains to the Judicial Morgue, where they will be examined by experts.

Police are now trying to establish whether he was killed and dumped at sea or if he had been involved in some sort of accident.

His wife, Virginia Brugger, had pleaded with the local community to help the search on social media platforms while he was still missing.

In one post, she wrote: “Thank you to everyone who is helping in the search for Diego and praying for him.

“We are all praying for him to appear soon, don’t stop asking for him, let’s not lose faith. Don’t leave him alone, bring me Diego.”

In another heart-rending post, she said: “Just a sign so I can find you please. Give him my crazy, don’t leave me,

“I pray to God that you show up soon. Here I am waiting for you. Don’t scare me like that.”

The investigation will continue as authorities search for more of the victim’s remains in the area.

A group of divers and another group joined by sniffer dogs have already set out to search all nearby areas.