JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesian rescuers have recovered the body of a female victim believed to be part of the family of a Spanish soccer coach and his three children who drowned after a tour boat capsized three days ago.
The rescue team discovered the body just after dawn on Monday, floating near the northern waters of Serai island, about a kilometer (0.6 miles) from the drowning site, after local residents spotted the victim, said Fathur Rahman, the head of the Maumere Search and Rescue Office.
He said the body was transported to a hospital in Labuan Bajo, a city at the gateway to Komodo National Park in eastern Indonesia, for identification.
“Relatives of the victim joined the ambulance to ensure identification through medical and forensic procedures,” Rahman said.
A family vacation in the park area turned tragic for Valencia CF Women’s B coach Fernando Martín, 44, when the boat carrying his wife, their four children, four crew members and a local guide went down on Friday night after suffering engine failure on a trip to the park that attracts thousands of international visitors for diving, trekking and wildlife tours.
Martín’s wife and another child, along with four crew members and a local guide, were rescued in the hours after the accident. But Martin, his two sons and another daughter, aged 9, 10 and 12, were not found.
Rahman said that Martin’s wife, Andrea, their youngest daughter, Mar, and the other survivors are in good health and that the authorities are investigating the cause of the accident.
Komodo National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site famous for its rugged landscapes, pristine beaches and the endangered Komodo dragon.
The search operation, on the fourth day Monday, continues for the remaining family members. The efforts were reinforced with almost 100 personnel, supported by the police and the navy, who were connecting four sectors in inflatable boats, sea ships and rescue vessels with the help of fishermen and local residents. Divers were also deployed.
The search area was doubled from the initial one centered on a 9-kilometer (5.6-mile) radius from the sinking site, where rescue teams found the boat debris, Rahman said. Indonesian law requires that searches continue for seven days and can be extended if necessary.
In a statement on X, the Valencia CF football club expressed its condolences, calling the tragedy a “devastating loss” for the club and its community.
Spain’s La Liga expressed its heartfelt support in a message of solidarity while other football clubs, including Real Madrid and Barcelona, also offered their condolences.
Indonesia is an archipelago with more than 17,000 islands, where boats are a common form of transport. With lax safety standards and overcrowding problems, accidents happen frequently.