LABUAN BAJO, Indonesia – In a somber development from the turquoise waters of the Komodo National Park, search and rescue teams on Tuesday recovered a body believed to be that of a missing child of Valencia CF women’s football coach, Martin Carreras Fernando. The discovery marks a tragic step in the ongoing aftermath of a Christmas holiday boating tragedy that has captured international attention.
The body was located inside the wreck of the KM Putri Sakinah, a traditional pinisi schooner that Fernando had chartered for a family excursion. The vessel was found stranded off Pede Beach on Komodo Island by local fisherman Saiful, who was fishing for octopus in the area around 1:00 PM local time.
“One body was found inside the ship,” Saiful reported, noting that the vessel’s door was open and no other victims were visible within the damaged hull.
The grim find was swiftly relayed to the Joint Search and Rescue (SAR) Post at Marina Labuan Bajo harbor. SAR Mission Coordinator Fathur Rahman of the Basarnas Maumere office confirmed the recovery. “Yes, one [body has been found]. It is currently en route [for evacuation to Labuan Bajo],” he stated. Two ambulances and teams of medical personnel and police converged on the port to receive the remains.
The incident traces back to the night of December 26, 2025, when the KM Putri Sakinah reportedly sank in the straits near Padar Island, within the famed UNESCO World Heritage site. Fernando and his three children were among those lost. The coach and his 12-year-old daughter were recovered earlier.
Fernando’s wife and their youngest daughter, aged seven, survived the sinking.
If forensic identification confirms the newly recovered body as one of Fernando’s sons, only one child would remain missing. The ongoing search operation underscores both the peril and the profound beauty of this region, a magnet for global tourists, divers, and expatriates drawn to its legendary biodiversity.
For the international community in Bali and beyond, many of whom frequent Labuan Bajo as a gateway to the Komodo dragons, the event is a stark reminder of the unpredictable power of nature, even in paradise. It casts a shadow over what for many is a season of celebration, uniting visitors and residents in a shared moment of grief for a family whose holiday journey ended in catastrophe.
Hey Bali News will continue to monitor this developing story with respect for the victims and their families.
Reported by Christo Hulir
Written by Hey Bali Newsroom
Comments 6