Indonesian rescuers find second body as search continues for Spanish soccer coach and 2 children

Indonesian rescuers recovered a second body on Sunday as part of the ongoing search for a Spanish football coach and two of his children who disappeared after a tour boat sank during their Christmas vacation.

The rescue team recovered the floating body near Padar Island, about 2 km from the shipwreck site, said Fathur Rahman, head of the Maumere search and rescue office.

The newly found body has not been identified by authorities, but it is believed to be that of a family member who was on vacation in Indonesia. Komodo National Park area. Rahman said the body was taken to a hospital in Labuan Bajo, a town on the edge of the park in eastern Indonesia, for identification.

A family holiday in the park turned tragic for Valencia CF women’s B coach Fernando Martín, 44, when the boat carrying him, his wife, their four children, four crew members and a local guide sank on the evening of December 26 following an engine failure.

Martín’s wife and one child, as well as the four crew members and the guide, were rescued within hours of the incident. But Martin, his two sons and another daughter, aged 9, 10 and 12, were missing.

Rescuers found the first victimthe 12-year-old Spanish girl, three days later, was floating near the northern waters of the island of Serai, less than a mile from the shipwreck site. Indonesian authorities confirmed with Martin’s wife and through medical and forensic identification that the girl was one of the missing children.

Rahman said the Spanish government and the victims’ families had been deeply involved. The Spanish ambassador officially requested continued strengthening of research in a letter dated December 31. According to Indonesian law, search operations usually last seven days, but can be extended if there are signs or chances of finding victims.

“We are determined to find all the victims,” Rahman said, following an examination by the joint SAR team which extended operations until January 4. “We remain optimistic that the hard work of all SAR elements will yield results during this extended operation.”

The search operation, which entered its tenth day on Sunday, continued to find the remaining family members. Efforts were boosted with more than 160 people, supported by police and the navy, roaming four sectors in inflatable boats, navy ships and rescue vessels equipped with sonar and underwater navigation equipment in the waters of Komodo National Park. Divers were also deployed.

Komodo National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for its rugged landscapes, pristine beaches and its endangered lizard, the Komodo Dragon. The park attracts thousands of international visitors for diving, hiking and guided wildlife tours.

Indonesia is an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, where boats are a common means of transportation. Due to lax safety standards and overcrowding issues, accidents occur frequently.