Tributes paid after Spanish top-flight football manager and three of his children are feared dead in tourist boat rough seas drowning
A Spanish football manager and his three young children are among relatives missing and feared dead after a tourist boat sank in rough seas off Indonesia.
Rescue teams are looking for 44-year-old Fernando Martin, who coaches the Valencia Women’s B Team, and his three children Elia (12), Kike (10) and Mateo (9).
The ship they were on was carrying 11 people when it sank on Friday in the Padar Island Strait near the popular Indonesian destination of Labuan Bajo.
Four crew members and a tour guide were rescued, as well as two surviving Spanish tourists.
Enrique Ortuno, manager of a restaurant called El Coso del Mar in Valencia, confirmed that the hotel manager’s daughter, Fernando’s wife Andrea, and their seven-year-old daughter Mar were rescued.
‘Unfortunately, only the mother and the little girl survived,’ he told a local newspaper in a city on Spain’s east coast.
The restaurant manager and his wife are said to be looking after their two young grandchildren, including a baby, who is staying with them in Spain while the rest of their family goes abroad for holidays.
In a brief interview with Valencian newspaper Las Provincias, he admitted he feared the worst, saying: ‘The bodies must be at the bottom of the sea and unless a miracle happens, it will be difficult to save them.’
Valencia Football Club paid tribute to the coach in a statement on social media this afternoon; Despite conflicting reports, rescue teams in Indonesia will restart the search for missing Fernando and his three children tomorrow.
It is feared that 44-year-old Fernando Martin, the coach of Valencia’s Women’s B team, and his three children died when a tourist boat sank in rough seas off the coast of Indonesia.
Fernando (pictured) was appointed coach of the Valencia Women’s B team at the beginning of this year.
Rescuers are searching for survivors after a tourist boat sank in rough seas off the coast of Indonesia
Rescuers are helping survivors to shore after a boat carrying several people sank off the coast of Indonesia due to extreme weather on Friday.
The post stated: ‘Valencia CF is deeply saddened by the death of Valencia CF Women’s B team coach Fernando Martin and his three children in a tragic boating accident in Indonesia, as confirmed by local authorities.
‘At this difficult time for everyone, the club would like to extend our support and condolences to the families, friends and colleagues at Valencia CF, the Valencia CF Women’s Team and the VCF Academy.’
Real Madrid also paid tribute to the coach. The Spanish football club said in a statement: ‘Real Madrid CF, its president and Board of Directors, are deeply saddened to learn of the death of Valencia CF Women’s B team coach Fernando Martín and his three children in a tragic boating accident in Indonesia.
Real Madrid wishes to express its dismay at this incredibly difficult time and extends its condolences and deepest sympathies to his wife Andrea and daughter Mar.
‘We also express our condolences to his entire family, loved ones and the entire Valencia family.
‘Fernando Martín passed away at the age of 44, along with his children aged 12, 10 and 9. ‘May they rest in peace.’
Fernando’s father-in-law, the restaurant owner, had previously admitted that the chances of finding them alive were very slim.
He had previously told Spanish media: ‘My daughter and my grandson were thrown off the boat because they were standing higher up.
‘They fell overboard and were rescued, but my three grandchildren and son-in-law were probably trapped on the boat, which broke apart and sank quickly.’
Mr Ortuno said: ‘This was their first big trip together as a family.
‘They are keen travelers and sports enthusiasts, but as they have young children they have mostly traveled around Spain so far.’
Fernando was appointed coach of the Valencia Women’s B team at the beginning of this year.
