Indonesian rescuers find a body while searching for Spanish soccer coach and 3 children

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JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesian rescuers recovered the body of a female victim believed to be a member of the family of a Spanish soccer coach and his three children who went missing after a tour boat sank three days ago.

The rescue team discovered the body just after dawn Monday, floating near the northern waters of Serai island, about 1 kilometer (0.6 mile) from the site of the sinking. A local resident first spotted the body, said Fathur Rahman, the Maumere Search and Rescue Office chief.

He said the body was transported to a hospital in Labuan Bajo, a gateway town to eastern Indonesia’s Komodo National Park, for identification.

“Relatives of the victim joined the ambulance to ensure identification through medical and forensic procedures,” Rahman said.

The family holiday in the park area 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 Friday evening after suffering engine failure.

Komodo National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site famous for its rugged landscapes, pristine beaches and an endangered lizard, the the Komodo dragon. The park attracts thousands of international visitors for diving, trekking and wildlife tours.

Martín's wife and one child, along with four crew members and a local guide, were rescued in the hours following the incident. But Martin, his two sons and another daughter, aged 9, 10 and 12, were unaccounted for.

Rahman said Martin’s wife, Andrea, their youngest daughter, Mar, and other survivors are in good health and that authorities are investigating the cause of the accident.

In a statement on X, the Valencia CF football club expressed 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 soccer clubs, including Real Madrid and Barcelona, also offered condolences.

The search operation, on its fourth day Monday, continued for the remaining family members. Efforts have been reinforced with more than 100 personnel, supported by police and navy, who were combing four sectors in inflatable boats, navy ships and rescue vessels with the assistance of local fishers and residents. Divers were also deployed.

The search area had been doubled from the initial one centered on a 9-kilometer (5.6-mile) radius from the site of the sinking, where rescue teams found the boat debris, Rahman said. Rescuers conducted intensive searches across waters surrounding Padar island, including near the tiny islands of Serai, Pengah, Papagarang, Siaba Besar, and northern Kanawa island.

“We are still focusing on coastal areas and underwater searches despite strong currents, heavy rain, and high waves,” Rahman said, “Divers carried out two deep-water dives between 18–28 meters, but no additional victims were found.”

However, the search was suspended on Monday evening because of bad weather and poor visibility and will be resumed early Tuesday, he said. Indonesian law calls for searches to continue for seven days and may be extended if necessary.

Indonesia is an archipelago with more than 17,000 islands, where boats are a common form of transportation. With lax safety standards and problems with overcrowding, accidents occur frequently.