JAKARTA, Indonesia — Indonesian search and rescue teams have recovered the body of a female victim believed to belong to the family of Spanish football coach Fernando Martín, who vanished alongside three of his children when their tour vessel capsized near Komodo National Park three days ago.
The discovery occurred at dawn on Monday when local residents spotted the body floating in northern Serai Island waters, approximately one kilometer from the initial sinking location. Fathur Rahman, head of the Maumere Search and Rescue Office, confirmed the victim was transported to Labuan Bajo Hospital for formal identification procedures, with family members accompanying the ambulance to assist forensic authorities.
The tragic incident unfolded Friday evening when the family’s holiday excursion turned catastrophic following apparent engine failure aboard their vessel. The boat carried Martín, 44—coach of Valencia CF Women’s B team—his wife Andrea, their four children, four crew members, and a local guide. While Martín’s wife and one child were rescued alongside the crew and guide shortly after the incident, Martín himself and three children—aged 9, 10, and 12—remain missing.
Search operations have intensified with nearly 100 personnel from multiple agencies including police and naval forces. The coordinated effort now covers twice the original search area, spanning a 9-kilometer radius from the wreckage site where debris was previously located. Rescue teams utilizing inflatable boats, naval vessels, and diver units are being assisted by local fishermen and residents.
Indonesian maritime law mandates search operations continue for seven days with possible extensions. The Komodo National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its Komodo dragons and diving attractions, has been the scene of numerous maritime incidents due to lax safety enforcement and overcrowding issues in the archipelago nation of 17,000 islands.
Valencia CF issued an official statement describing the event as ‘a devastating loss’ for the club community, while Spain’s La Liga and fellow football clubs including Real Madrid and Barcelona expressed solidarity with the affected family.