Valencia CF have confirmed the tragic death of one of their coaching staff, Fernando Martín, and three of his children following a fatal tourist boat accident in Indonesia.
Martín, who was a coach with Valencia CF Femenino B, was travelling with his family when the ferry encountered severe conditions in the Padar Island Strait within the Komodo National Park on Friday, December 26, 2025.
Reports indicate the vessel was hit by waves of up to 10 feet before suffering engine failure and eventually sinking.
There were 11 people on board at the time of the incident.
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Following the accident, Martín and his children, aged nine, 10 and 12, were initially declared missing. Their deaths have since been confirmed by local authorities.
Seven people survived the incident, including his wife, Andrea, and their seven-year-old daughter, as well as four crew members and a tour guide. Rescue teams continue to search for the bodies of those still unaccounted for.
Images released by the Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) showed officers combing the waters where debris believed to belong to the sunken vessel was discovered.
In a statement, Valencia CF confirmed the devastating news.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Fernando Martín, coach of Valencia CF Femenino B, and three of his children in a tragic boating accident in Indonesia, as confirmed by local authorities.
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.”
Authorities have since closed Padar Island to tourists due to dangerous weather conditions, with rescue efforts hampered by high waves and poor visibility.
FKA/JE
