A 17-year-old Indonesian boy who survived the country's devastating Tsunami in 2004 is set to join Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon.

The remarkable story of Martunis is set to have a fairytale ending with the boy who spent three weeks alone on a deserted beach, surviving only by drinking swimming pool water, joining Lisbon's biggest club.

Sporting president Bruno de Carvalho announced at the club's 109-year anniversary gala that the youngster was to be joining the prestigious youth ranks at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.

Martunis will hope to follow in the footsteps of former Sporting graduate Cristiano Ronaldo, with whom he has struck up a friendship after the Real Madrid star read his story in British newspapers and contacted him.

Ronaldo visited Martunis several times whilst he was recovering from his ordeal and is helping the boy's family rebuild their home, which was completely destroyed by the Tsunami.