Indonesian search teams have recovered a second body as the hunt continues for a Spanish football coach and two of his children following a boat sinking during a Christmas holiday in eastern Indonesia.
The vessel, 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 on the evening of 26 December near Komodo National Park. The body was found drifting near Padar Island, about 2km from the accident site, according to Fathur Rahman, head of the Maumere Search and Rescue Office.
The remains have not yet been formally identified, but authorities believe they belong to one of the missing family members. The body has been taken to a hospital in Labuan Bajo for forensic identification. Martín’s wife and one child, along with the guide and all crew members, were rescued within hours of the sinking.
The first victim, a 12-year-old Spanish girl, was found three days later floating near Serai island. The search operation, now in its tenth day, has been extended to 4 January, with more than 160 personnel, including police and navy, using inflatable boats, navy ships and sonar equipment across the park’s waters.
Komodo National Park, a Unesco World Heritage site, is known for its rugged landscapes and Komodo dragons. Boat accidents are common in Indonesia, an archipelago of over 17,000 islands, due to lax safety standards and overcrowding.
