Soccer Coach and His 3 Young Children Die After Boat Sinks Near Popular Tourist Destination
- - Soccer Coach and His 3 Young Children Die After Boat Sinks Near Popular Tourist Destination
Kimberlee SpeakmanDecember 28, 2025 at 4:25 AM
0
Handout/BASARNAS/AFP via Getty
Labuan Bajo's Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency photo -
A soccer coach and his three young children died in a boating incident on Dec. 27
Fernando Martín was 44 and his three children who died were ages 12, 10 and 9
Professional Spanish soccer club Valencia CF announced the news of the family members' deaths
A soccer coach and his three young children have died in a boating incident.
Professional Spanish soccer club Valencia CF announced the news through an X post on Saturday, Dec. 27, revealing that its women’s B team coach, Fernando Martín, died “in a tragic boating accident in Indonesia.”
The soccer club added that three of Martín's children died with him. “At this extremely difficult time, the Club would like to express its deepest condolences and full support to his family, friends and colleagues at Valencia CF, Valencia CF Femenino and the VCF Academy,” Valencia CF said.
Real Madrid, another professional soccer club, shared its condolences to Valencia CF and Martín’s family for their loss in a statement on Dec. 27. The team said Martín was 44 and his children who died were ages 12, 10 and 9.
“Real Madrid wishes to express its horror, and extends its condolences and deepest affection to his wife, Andrea, and his daughter, Mar, at this incredibly difficult time,” the soccer club said, referring to the coach's surviving family members.
— sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Handout/BASARNAS/AFP via Getty
A photo of search and rescue teams evacuating foreign tourists in the waters of Padar Island
According to , The Independent and Catalan newspaper Diari Ara, a tour boat carrying 11 people — a family of six, four crew members and a local guide — sank overnight near Padar Island, located within Komodo National Park in Indonesia.
Port authorities in the area said that the boating incident may have occurred due to rough seas, with waves of up to nearly 10 feet high reported, according to Diari Ara.
Fathur Rahman, who heads the Maumere Search and Rescue Office, told the AP that three people were rescued by a passing vessel and four others were picked up by a search and rescue team.
He added to the outlet and Diari Ara that search efforts had to be suspended on Dec. 27 due to bad weather and poor visibility, but they will resume on Sunday, Dec. 28.
on People
Source: “AOL Sports”