The body of 23-year-old Julian Amaral, a British national who went missing after a boat party in Lisbon, has been found in the Tagus River. Portuguese Maritime Police confirmed the discovery on Sunday evening, September 6.
Amaral was last seen around midnight on Wednesday, September 2, at Alcantara Docks. A search operation involving police divers was initiated following his disappearance. Reports indicated that CCTV footage might show him falling into the river.
Personnel from the Lisbon Local Maritime Police Command and the Lisbon Regiment of Specialist Firefighters were deployed after an alert was received around 7:20 p.m. Sunday. Firefighters recovered the body, and a health delegate pronounced Amaral deceased at the scene. The body was subsequently transported to the National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences in Lisbon, and the Public Prosecutor's Office was notified.
Julian Amaral, from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, was on holiday in Portugal and staying at a relative's house. He had been attending a youth-oriented music event called the Vida de Jovem Boat Party, which featured genres such as Afro house and Afrobeat, with his cousin. Revellers were reportedly asked to adhere to an all-white dress code.
Conflicting accounts of his last known movements exist. One report suggested he told his cousin he was going to the toilet in the boat's basement around 11:25 p.m. on Tuesday. Another indicated a security guard on board saw him leaving the vessel shortly after midnight on Wednesday as it docked at Rocha Conde de Obidos.
Prior to the discovery of his body, Portuguese police had announced they were scaling back search efforts. A Maritime Police chief stated that the strongest indications suggested he may have fallen into the water. Initially, on Thursday, the belief was that the young man might have left the vessel. The official search operations, coordinated by the Harbour Master and Local Commander of the Lisbon Maritime Police, were suspended on Saturday night without him being found. Daily patrols by the National Maritime Authority were set to continue the search.
Amaral's sister, Jennifer, confirmed the tragic news to The Sun, stating, "They have found Julian. He is no longer with us." She had previously made an emotional public appeal for information and support during the search.
An autopsy is expected to be conducted. The Maritime Police Psychology Office is providing support to Amaral's family members.