Indonesian rescuers find second body as search continues for Spanish soccer coach and two boys

Indonesian rescuers recovered a second body on Sunday in the ongoing search for a Spanish soccer coach and two of his children who disappeared after a tourist boat sank during his Christmas vacation.

The rescue team recovered the body floating near Padar Island, about 1.2 miles from the sinking site, said Fathur Rahman, head of the Maumere Search and Rescue Office.

The newly recovered body remains unidentified by authorities, but is believed to be that of a family member who was vacationing in Indonesia. Komodo National Park area. Rahman said the body was transported to a hospital in Labuan Bajo, a gateway town to the park in eastern Indonesia, for identification.

The family vacation in the park area turned tragic for the coach of Valencia CF Femenino B, Fernando Martín, 44, when the boat in which he, his wife, his four children, four crew members and a local guide were traveling sank on the afternoon of December 26 after suffering an engine failure.

Martín’s wife and a son, along with the four crew members and the guide, were rescued in the hours following the incident. But Martin, his two sons and another daughter, ages 9, 10 and 12, were missing.

Rescuers found the first victim.the 12-year-old Spanish girl, three days later, floating near the northern waters of Serai Island, less than a mile from the site of the sinking. 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 have been deeply involved. The Spanish ambassador formally requested that the search be continued to be strengthened in a letter dated December 31. Under Indonesian law, search operations typically 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 a review by the joint SAR team that extended operations until January 4. “We remain optimistic that the hard work of all SAR elements will pay off during this extended operation.”

The search operation, in its 10th day on Sunday, continued for the remaining family members. Efforts have been reinforced with more than 160 personnel, supported by police and navy, combing four sectors in inflatable boats, navy boats and rescue vessels equipped with sonar equipment and underwater navigation equipment through 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 an endangered lizard, the Komodo dragon. The park attracts thousands of international visitors for diving, hiking and wildlife tours.

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