The search and rescue efforts in Indonesia have experienced a new and painful advance on Monday with the recovery of the body of the girl of the Spanish family who disappeared last Friday after the wreck of a tourist boat in waters near the island of Padar. The information has been confirmed by members of the rescue teams and reflects a tragic turn in the operation that is already in its fourth day.
The discovery came after rescuers reported the recovery of a body in the area where they were searching for the four missing people: the soccer coach, his wife and their three children. Shortly afterwards, Yudha, one of the members of the rescue teams, confirmed to EFE that the body corresponds to that of the girl from the missing family.
The discovery and the rescue operation
According to the statement released by the Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), a resident of the island of Serai saw a body floating about 0.5 nautical miles from the point of the possible sinking of the boat where the Spaniards were traveling. Following the sighting, a raft of rescuers went to retrieve the lifeless remains.
Initially, Fathur Rahman, the Basarnas officer coordinating the mission, had explained that the recovered body was taken by ambulance to the Komodo Regional Hospital in Labuan Bajo, from where part of the operation is being directed. No details were initially provided on the nationality or age of the victim, although it was indicated that it was “a woman”.
The search included police boats, professional divers and specialized rescue units. This mission was joined on Monday by the ship KN Puntadewa, with 27 crew members, including three expert divers who joined the approximately 70 personnel previously deployed in the area.
Relatives issue statement after discovery
The news of the discovery was confirmed by the family members themselves through a statement issued this morning. In it, they express their deep sorrow for the loss of “one of the three missing children, whose mortal remains have been recovered in the course of the search efforts”. The text adds a request for privacy and respect in these moments of enormous suffering: “We ask a prayer for all of them and, as far as possible, we ask that their identity be preserved. In these moments of indescribable pain, we request that consideration and respect for the privacy of our families be maintained.”
The relatives also noted their appreciation for the support received both in Spain and Indonesia, and reaffirmed their hope in the continuity of the operation: “We appreciate all the support we are receiving, both in Spain and Indonesia, and we are confident that the search efforts will continue. We will not return to Spain without the four of us, all together.”
The context of the shipwreck
The sinking of the KM Putri Sakinah, a tourist boat, occurred around 20:30 Friday (13:30 GMT) in the waters near Padar Island, an area known among tourists for its scenery and its proximity to the Komodo National Park. Following the incident, a search operation was immediately activated with speedboats and diving equipment to try to locate the missing occupants.
Among the missing are Fernando Martín, ex-footballer and coach of the Valencia CF B women’s team, his wife Andrea Ortuño and three children: Martín’s son and two of the couple’s children, a boy and a girl. According to sources close to the family, Ortuño and one of their daughters were rescued alive after the shipwreck, although initially there was confusion about the identities of the rescued and missing people.
Continuation of the operation
Despite the confirmation of this finding, the search efforts continue, as the other three members of the family have not yet been located: the adult and the other two minors. The intensity and complexity of the operation has required the participation of different maritime and aerial means, as well as specialized diving teams.
The inclusion of the ship KN Puntadewa and its crew of expert divers is intended to enhance the ability to locate underwater debris or objects linked to the wreck. The search is focused on the area near the point where the vessel is estimated to have sunk, as well as in nearby areas where sea currents could have displaced debris or people.
