LABUAN BAJO, Indonesia — The tenth day of an exhaustive search in Komodo National Park culminated in a somber discovery that has reshaped the ongoing rescue mission. The body of Valencia CF coach Fernando Martín Carreras was recovered on Sunday, January 4, prompting a renewed, three-day extension of the operation to locate his two missing sons.
As the search enters its final extended phase, here are the key facts surrounding the coach’s recovery.
1. Official Confirmation of Identity
Formal identification of the 44-year-old Spanish national was conducted by a joint medical team from the police and Komodo General Hospital. “From the identification results carried out by the police and RSUD Labuan Bajo, we can convey that it is indeed one of the victims of the KM Putri Sakinah sinking,” stated Fathur Rahman, Head of the Maumere Basarnas office and the mission coordinator.
This official confirmation followed a heart-wrenching, informal identification at the SAR command post by a family member, who simply said, “Father is found.”
2. The Circumstances of the Discovery
The coach’s body was found at 08:47 a.m., floating approximately two kilometers from the site where the pinisi vessel sank on December 26. He was discovered face down on a calm sea surface by a police patrol vessel, KPC 2007, wearing only a pair of red trousers that his family immediately recognized.
Beyond the recovery of the coach, the day’s search yielded only scattered debris from the sunken boat, including a fire extinguisher and small hull fragments.
3. The Intensified Search for His Sons
Following the recovery, search teams immediately pivoted, focusing all efforts on finding his two sons, aged 9 and 10. The mission employed surface sweeps with sonar-equipped boats and diver teams. Despite these efforts, the search concluded at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday with no trace of the boys.
This result led directly to the decision to extend the search a second time, now set to continue until Wednesday, January 7, bringing the total operation to thirteen days.
The tragedy’s toll is now partially accounted for: the coach’s 12-year-old daughter was recovered on December 29, while his wife and 7-year-old child survived. The search now narrows with painful clarity to a final, desperate effort to find the two young boys and bring a measure of closure to a family that has endured an unimaginable ordeal.
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