The third British victim of the Lisbon funicular crash has been identified as Andrew David Kenneth Young, an 82-year-old transport enthusiast from Holyhead in Wales. His family said his "final moments were in pursuit of the hobby which gave him so much happiness".
Young was among 16 people who died when the popular tourist attraction derailed in the centre of the Portuguese city on Wednesday. A further 21 people were injured, including five seriously, with Portuguese authorities saying the crash was likely caused by an issue with a cable connecting the streetcar's two cabins.
Investigation reveals cable failure
Portugal's Office for Air and Rail Accident Investigations released its first report on Saturday, revealing the cabins had travelled "not more than about six metres" when they "suddenly lost the balancing force provided by the cable connecting them". The connecting cable had given way at the attachment point to the cabin at the top of the hill.
The report detailed how the top cabin continued its downward movement, increasing speed despite the brakeman immediately applying pneumatic and hand brakes. These actions had no effect in stopping or reducing the cabin's speed, and it continued accelerating down the slope until crashing into a building.
Family tributes to victims
Young's family, in a statement issued by North Wales Police, described him as a lifelong transport enthusiast who enjoyed visiting heritage railways and tramways around the world in retirement. He had moved to Holyhead in 1980 where he worked as a customs officer after being raised in Auchterarder, Perthshire.
The other British victims were theatre director Kayleigh Smith and her partner Will Nelson, a lecturer at Manchester's Arden School of Theatre. Smith's family said she "was loved by family and friends for her wit and humour" and had just completed a master's degree, whilst Nelson's brother described him as "everyone's big brother" who was "always kind, selfless, and protective".
International tragedy and official response
The victims also included five Portuguese nationals, two Canadians, two South Koreans, one American, one French, one Swiss and one Ukrainian. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is "deeply saddened" that three British nationals died, according to a Downing Street spokesman.
The 140-year-old Gloria funicular features two separate yellow carriages travelling between Restauradores Square and the Bairro Alto area, with journeys normally taking three minutes. Portugal's prime minister Luis Montenegro described the incident as "one of the biggest tragedies of our recent past".
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
