Indonesian search and rescue teams have recovered the body of a woman believed to be related to a missing Spanish football coach and his three children, following a tragic boat sinking in a famed national park.
Search Operation Intensifies After Tragedy
The victim was found floating in the waters near Serai island on Monday morning, three days after the tour boat went down. A local resident first spotted the body, which was located roughly one kilometre from the initial sinking site. Fathur Rahman, chief of the Maumere Search and Rescue Office, confirmed the discovery just after dawn.
The body has been taken to a hospital in Labuan Bajo, the gateway town to Komodo National Park in eastern Indonesia, for formal identification. Relatives of the victim accompanied the ambulance to assist with the medical and forensic procedures, Rahman stated.
Family Holiday Ends in Disaster
The incident occurred on Friday evening when a boat carrying Valencia CF Women's B coach Fernando Martín, 44, his wife, their four children, four crew members, and a local guide suffered engine failure and sank. The group was on a holiday trip within the UNESCO World Heritage site, popular for diving and wildlife tours.
While Martín's wife, Andrea, one of their daughters, Mar, the four crew, and the guide were rescued shortly after the accident, the coach and his three other children—aged 9, 10, and 12—remain missing.
Authorities confirmed the survivors are in good health and have launched an investigation into the cause of the accident.
Massive Search Effort Continues
On its fourth day, the search operation for the remaining family members has been significantly expanded. Nearly 100 personnel from the search and rescue agency, police, and navy are involved, supported by local fishermen and residents.
The teams are using a combination of inflatable boats, navy ships, and rescue vessels to comb four designated sectors. Divers have also been deployed to aid the search.
The search radius has been doubled from the initial 9-kilometre area centred on the location where boat debris was found. Under Indonesian law, such searches must continue for seven days and can be extended if necessary.
The football world has rallied in support. Valencia CF issued a statement on X describing the event as "a devastating loss" for the club and its community. Spain's La Liga, along with clubs including Real Madrid and Barcelona, have offered condolences and messages of solidarity.
Indonesia's vast archipelago of over 17,000 islands relies heavily on boat transport. However, accidents are frequent due to often lax safety standards and issues with overcrowding.
