A British couple who died in Lisbon after a funicular tram derailed on Wednesday have been identified as Kayleigh Smith and William Nelson.
Smith, 36, and Nelson, 44, were among 16 people killed when the Elevador da Glória lost control on a hill and crashed into a building.
Smith, from Macclesfield in Cheshire, was a graduate of the Arden School of Theatre in Manchester, where Nelson worked as a director. Authorities have not yet revealed the name of the third British victim.
Portugal’s prime minister, Luís Montenegro, called the incident “one of the biggest tragedies in our recent history.” Twenty-one people were injured, with five in serious condition.
Police confirmed that the victims included five Portuguese citizens, three Britons, two South Koreans, two Canadians, an American, a Ukrainian, a Swiss national, and a French citizen.
Initial reports of a German fatality were later corrected after the person was found alive in a hospital. Local media had stated that a German father had died, while his wife was seriously hurt and their three-year-old child suffered minor injuries.
Before the accident, Smith posted photos on Instagram of their first day in Lisbon, writing, “Churches and castles, tiles and trams.”
MADS Theatre in Macclesfield paid tribute, saying, “We are deeply saddened by the loss of Kayleigh Smith and her partner Will Nelson in this tragedy."
"Kayleigh was a vital part of our community and contributed significantly to MADS and theatre in the region. She was an award-winning director and actress who held various roles with us, including vice-chair and technical lead. Above all, she was a dear friend who will be greatly missed."
"Our thoughts are with their families, and we ask for privacy for them during this difficult time."
Germany’s foreign ministry stated that at least three of its citizens were hospitalized. Other injured individuals included Spanish, Israeli, Portuguese, Brazilian, Italian, and French nationals, according to Portugal’s national health service director, Álvaro Santos Almeida.
The fatalities included André Jorge Gonçalves Marques, the tram’s brake guard, and Pedro Manuel Alves Trindade, a former volleyball referee.
Carris, the company operating the funicular, described Marques as a “committed, kind, and cheerful professional who always aimed to make a positive difference.”
Portugal’s transport union expressed condolences to the victims’ families and wished the injured a swift recovery.
Investigators are still working to determine the cause of the incident.
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