A British individual tragically passed away in the unfortunate incident involving a Lisbon funicular crash. Prior to the accident, Kayleigh Smith had shared a cheerful post on Instagram showcasing her holiday moments in Portugal alongside her partner, Will Nelson. Sadly, both individuals lost their lives in the accident that caused the popular tourist attraction to derail in Lisbon.
The Instagram post featured serene photos captioned with “Churches and castles, tiles and trams,” encapsulating the essence of their trip. However, the joy from the post was short-lived as the tram crash resulted in Kayleigh’s untimely demise shortly after sharing the images. The tragic event claimed a total of 16 lives, including three British citizens, with the identity of the third Brit yet to be disclosed by authorities.
Among the deceased were individuals from various nationalities, including Portuguese, Canadian, South Korean, American, French, Swiss, and Ukrainian. Additionally, 21 people sustained injuries, with five in critical condition as a result of the crash.
Kayleigh, aged 36, was a respected member of MADS Theatre in Macclesfield, Cheshire, where a heartfelt tribute was shared in her memory. Described as an award-winning director and actress, Kayleigh contributed significantly to the theater community in the North West. The theater expressed deep condolences to both families and emphasized the profound loss felt by all who knew her.
In response to the tragedy, Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed profound sadness over the loss of the three British nationals and extended solidarity to the affected families and Portugal during this challenging time. The Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office assured that support is being provided to the families of the deceased British nationals in coordination with local authorities.
The Gloria funicular, which has been operational for 140 years, was carrying numerous passengers when the derailment occurred. Portugal’s Prime Minister Luis Montenegro characterized the incident as one of the most devastating tragedies in recent memory.