Lorraine Williamson
Indonesian rescuers have recovered and identified the body of Spanish coach Fernando Martín, who disappeared when a tourist boat sank near Padar Island in Komodo National Park on 26 December. The Fernando Martín Komodo shipwreck remains an active search operation, with two minors still missing.
Spain’s public broadcaster RTVE said the identification was confirmed after police and hospital checks in Labuan Bajo, the port town used as a base for the rescue effort. Indonesia’s Antara news agency also reported that disaster victim identification teams had confirmed the body was Martín’s.
What we know about the victims so far
This is the second body recovered in the operation. The first was identified as a 12-year-old Spanish girl who was found several days after the sinking.
RTVE reported that the two people still unaccounted for are both minors, and that the search is continuing for them. Associated Press reporting has said Martín’s wife and one child were rescued in the hours after the boat went down, along with crew members and a local guide.
How the sinking happened
Indonesian officials have attributed the accident to engine failure, with strong currents and unstable sea conditions repeatedly slowing search work and forcing teams to widen the area covered. The operation has involved divers, sonar-equipped vessels, and coordinated patrols across multiple sectors of the park’s waters.
From defender to coach
Martín, 44, was a former footballer who played primarily as a centre-back before moving into coaching. Reuters noted he had played in Spain’s second tier, and football databases list spells at clubs including Alcoyano, Cultural Leonesa, and Benidorm.
He later worked within Valencia’s set-up and was coaching Valencia CF Femenino B at the time of his death. Valencia CF and Real Madrid both published condolences after the tragedy became known.
Where the search stands now
With Martín now found, the focus is on locating the two missing children. Indonesian authorities say the effort remains complicated by drift patterns and changing conditions around the islands, but teams are continuing while the window remains open for further recovery.