Lisbon Funicular Crash Kills 16 Including British, Canadian, Portuguese

A tragic derailment of Lisbon's historic Gloria funicular killed 16 people, including British theatre director Kayleigh Smith and her partner, lecturer Will Nelson, as well as a third British citizen whose identity remains undisclosed. The crash also claimed the lives of five Portuguese nationals, two Canadians, two South Koreans, an American, a French citizen, a Swiss national, and a Ukrainian, with 21 others injured. Smith and Nelson, from Cheshire, were visiting Lisbon and shared joyful photos hours before the accident, highlighting the suddenness of the tragedy. Quebec archaeology experts André Bergeron and his wife Blandine Daux were among the victims, recognized for their significant contributions to conservation and archaeological restoration. Tributes have poured in from their respective communities, including MADS Theatre in Macclesfield and the Association of Archeologists of Quebec. Portuguese authorities and international governments are supporting families, and investigations into the cause of the crash are ongoing.