Figo to help Indonesian tsunami survivor

Figo to help Indonesian tsunami survivor

Real Madrid's Portuguese star Luis Figo wants to help a seven- year-old tsunami victim who was rescued in Indonesia over the weekend wearing a Portugal team jersey after spending three weeks alone.

"It is an incredible story. To find a child who survived so many days without eating, on top of it all wearing Portugal's jersey, is almost a miracle," he told Portuguese daily Correio da Manha.

"I am going to see what I can do as I also want to help," added the midfielder who made 110 appearances in 12 years for Portugal.

The boy, named Martunis, was found covered in mosquito bites by a British television crew on a Banda Aceh beach which was engulfed by the Dec. 26 tsunami.

He was taken to hospital where he was recognized by another patient and then reunited with his grandfather and father.

Martunis became separated from his family and is believed to have lived on puddle water and dried noodles until he was rescued. Doctors expect him to make a full recovery.

His mother and two siblings are still missing.

The images of the child wearing the red-and-green jersey of the Portuguese national side has led to an outpouring of offers of aid from Portuguese football officials and players.

Manchester United's Portugal winger Cristiano Ronaldo has offered to put up the child at his home in England for a few days so he can see the Red Devils in action while Benfica striker Nuno Gomes said the Lisbon club was looking into how it could help the boy.

Portugal's Football Federation has also promised to help Martunis, with Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari saying they planned to buy the boy and his father land and a house in Indonesia. -- AFP