British couple killed in Lisbon funicular crash named

"A British couple killed in Lisbon after a funicular streetcar derailed on Wednesday have been named as Kayleigh Smith and William Nelson. Smith, 36, and Nelson, 44, died alongside 14 other people after the Elevador da Gloria hurtled down a hill and careered into a building. Smith, from Macclesfield in Cheshire, graduated from the Arden School of Theatre in Manchester, where Nelson worked as a theatre director."

"In a statement on Friday morning, police said the accident had killed five Portuguese citizens, three Britons, two South Koreans, two Canadians, one American, one Ukrainian, one Swiss citizen and one French person. Police said a German citizen thought to have died in the crash had been located alive in a hospital. Local media had reported that a German father had died and a mother was seriously hurt while their three-year-old child suffered minor injuries."

"Hours before the crash, Smith posted pictures on Instagram of the couple's first day in Lisbon with the caption: Churches and castles, tiles and trams. MADS Theatre in Macclesfield posted a tribute on Friday night saying: It is with great sadness that we must acknowledge the death of Kayleigh Smith and her partner Will Nelson in the Lisbon funicular tragedy. Kayleigh was a valued member of our society and made considerable contributions both to MADS and to drama in the North West."

Kayleigh Smith, 36, and William Nelson, 44, were among 16 people killed when the Elevador da Gloria funicular derailed and crashed into a building in Lisbon. The crash left 21 people injured, five in serious condition. Police reported the fatalities included five Portuguese, three Britons, two South Koreans, two Canadians, one American, one Ukrainian, one Swiss citizen and one French person. A German citizen initially thought to have died was later located alive in hospital. Smith posted Instagram photos earlier that day of the couple's first day in Lisbon. MADS Theatre paid tribute to Smith and Nelson.

Read at www.theguardian.com