Second Body Recovered as Search Continues for Spanish Coach Fernando Martín and Two Children After Komodo Boat Sinking

Indonesian rescuers recovered a second body on Sunday as search teams continued their effort to find Spanish soccer coach Fernando Martín and two of his children after a tour boat sank during a family Christmas holiday in Komodo National Park.

The body was found floating near Padar Island, roughly 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) from the scene of the sinking, Maumere Search and Rescue Office chief Fathur Rahman said. The recovered remains were transported to a hospital in Labuan Bajo — the eastern Indonesian gateway to the park — for formal identification.

Authorities have not yet publicly identified the newly recovered body, but officials believe it is likely a member of the family that had been on holiday in the park. The vessel sank on the evening of Dec. 26 after reportedly suffering engine failure.

The holiday party included Martín, 44, coach of Valencia CF Women’s B, his wife, their four children, four crew members and a local guide. Martín’s wife, one child, the four crew members and the guide were rescued in the hours after the accident. Martín himself and three children — ages 9, 10 and 12 — were initially unaccounted for.

In this photo released by the Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, rescuers recover a body believed to be one of the victims of a tourist boat that sank on Dec. 26, in the waters near Padar Island in Komodo National Park, Indonesia. (BASARNAS via AP)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Rescuers recovered the first victim, a 12-year-old girl, three days after the sinking. She was found floating near the northern waters of Serai Island, about 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) from the sinking site. Indonesian authorities said they confirmed her identity through medical and forensic procedures and consultation with Martín’s wife.

"We are determined to find all the victims," Rahman said following a joint SAR team review that extended the search operation.

Under Indonesian law, search operations typically run seven days but can be extended if there are credible signs or reasonable chances of finding survivors or additional victims. Spain's ambassador formally requested reinforced search support in a Dec. 31 letter, and the joint search-and-rescue effort was extended to Jan. 4.

The operation has been scaled up to more than 160 personnel and is supported by police, the navy and other agencies. Teams have been combing four search sectors using inflatable boats, navy ships and rescue vessels equipped with sonar and underwater navigation gear, while divers continue to search underwater.

Komodo National Park — a UNESCO World Heritage site — is renowned for its rugged islands, pristine beaches and the endangered Komodo dragon, and it draws thousands of international visitors each year for diving, trekking and wildlife tours.

Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, relies heavily on boats for transport. Maritime incidents are not uncommon amid concerns about lax safety standards and frequent overcrowding on vessels.