British Couple Among 16 Killed in Lisbon Funicular Tragedy

Published: 06 September 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online.

Authorities in Lisbon have named Kayleigh Smith, 36, and William Nelson, 44, as two of the British nationals killed when the Elevador da Glória funicular derailed on Wednesday, crashing into a building and claiming a total of 16 lives. The incident, described by Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro as “one of the biggest tragedies in our recent history,” also left 21 people injured, including five in serious condition.

Kayleigh Smith, originally from Macclesfield in Cheshire, was an award-winning actress and director who trained at the Arden School of Theatre in Manchester. William Nelson, a theatre director, worked alongside her at the same institution. Tributes poured in from MADS Theatre, where Smith had served in multiple roles including vice-chair and head of tech. The theatre described her as “a valued member of our society whose contributions to drama in the North West will not be forgotten.”

The third British victim’s identity has not yet been released, while the other fatalities included five Portuguese citizens, two South Koreans, two Canadians, one American, one Ukrainian, one Swiss, and one French national. Initial reports of a German fatality were corrected when authorities confirmed that the individual was alive in hospital, with three German nationals still receiving treatment. Injuries also affected citizens from Spain, Israel, Brazil, Italy, and France.

Among the deceased were André Jorge Gonçalves Marques, the funicular brake guard, and Pedro Manuel Alves Trindade, a former volleyball referee. Marques was remembered by his employer, Carris, as “a dedicated, kind and happy professional, always willing to contribute to the greater good.” The Portuguese transport union Sitra extended condolences to all affected families.

The Glória line funicular, which carries approximately three million passengers annually, operates with two cars attached to opposite ends of a haulage cable, powered by electric motors. Investigators have so far found no evidence of sabotage, leaving mechanical failure or maintenance issues as the leading possibilities behind the crash.

Hours before the incident, Kayleigh Smith had shared images on Instagram capturing her first day in Lisbon, captioned: “Churches and castles, tiles and trams.” Following the tragedy, officials in the UK expressed solidarity with Portugal, with a No. 10 spokesperson stating: “The prime minister is deeply saddened to hear that three British nationals have died in the funicular crash in Lisbon. His thoughts are with their families and those affected by this terrible incident.”

The incident has shocked both local residents and the international community, prompting renewed discussions on the safety and maintenance of public transport infrastructure in Lisbon.