Missing sailor's remains found inside giant shark caught and killed off 'Jaws Beach'
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Human remains found in the belly of a shark are probably those of a man who disappeared from a boat off Jaws Beach - on an island where one of the Jaws movies was filmed, police in the Bahamas said.
Fingerprints were used to identify Judson Newton, although they are still waiting for DNA test results, Assistant Police Commissioner Hulan Hanna said.
It is unclear if the 43-year-old was alive when he was eaten.
Mr Newton went on a boating trip with friends off Jaws Beach on New Providence Island on August 29 and encountered engine trouble.
Grim find: The 12ft tiger shark which was found to contain the body of Judson Newton, 43, who had tried to swim to Jaws Beach in The Bahamas after his boat's engine failed
Caught: The shark was pulled from the water by an amateur fisherman off the Exuma Islands
Rescuers who responded to a call for help found three men on board who said that Mr Newton and a friend jumped into the water to try to swim back to shore.
Officials launched a search for them, but neither was found.
On September 4, a local investment banker caught the 12ft tiger shark while on a deep-sea fishing trip and he said a left leg popped out of its mouth as they hauled it in.
When officers with the island's defence force cut the shark open, they found the right leg, two severed arms and a severed torso.
One of Mr Newton's friends, Samuel Woodside, 37, told reporters that he was surprised when he heard police say Mr Newton probably drowned.
Film location: A scene from Jaws 4: The Revenge starring Michael Caine, Lorraine Gary and Lance Guest
'To me, he was always a strong swimmer,' Mr Woodside said. 'I don't know what happened.'
Mr Woodside said he and Mr Newton were childhood friends and would go fishing almost every weekend when Mr Newton was not working as a sailor on cargo boats or as a chef at local restaurants.
Mr Newton did not favour one fishing spot over another, Mr Woodside said.
'He was a sailor, you see,' he said. 'Anywhere where he could get a fishing line, he would go there.'
Mr Newton was not married and did not have children, but he left behind his mother and a brother, Mr Woodside said.
The beach near where Mr Newton was last seen is located on the small island where the 1987 shark-terror sequel film Jaws: The Revenge was partially filmed. The capital, Nassau, is also on the island.
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