Andrew David Kenneth Young, 82, has been named as the third and final British citizen to die in the Elevador de Glória funicular accident in Lisbon that killed 16 people and injured nearly two dozen on Sept. 3.
The yellow-and-white funicular came off its rails at about 6:05 p.m., careening downhill from the Bairro Alto neighbourhood toward Restauradores Square before crashing into the corner of a hotel as Lisbon's evening rush hour peaked. Authorities said the train was packed with locals and tourists at the time.
Young, from Holyhead on Anglesey, was described by his family as a "lifelong transport enthusiast" who spent his retirement visiting heritage railways and tramways around the world. Raised in Auchterarder, Perthshire, he moved to Holyhead in 1980 and had a long career as a customs officer, the family said.
He died alongside two other British nationals identified earlier: Kayleigh Gillian Smith, 36, and her partner William Nelson, 44. Police on Friday said they had identified all 16 victims, who included five Portuguese nationals, two Canadians, two South Koreans, one American, one French, one Swiss and one Ukrainian. Authorities also clarified that a German father who had initially been reported among the dead was alive and was receiving care in a Lisbon hospital.
Investigators from the national judiciary police (Polícia Judiciária), public prosecutors and government transport experts are examining the cause of the accident, and Carris, the company that operates the funicular, has opened its own inquiry. The Lisbon Firefighters Regiment said a cable in the funicular structure likely came loose and caused the derailment, but Carris warned that investigators should not assume the problem lies solely with the cable.
Carris said the funicular had undergone full maintenance checks last year and had been inspected about nine hours before the crash. Chief executive Pedro de Brito Bogas said six technicians, supervised by three engineers, were responsible for maintaining the elevator, but he did not specify what the visual inspection on Sept. 3 entailed or whether all cables had been tested.
A preliminary police report with a broader scope is expected within 45 days, the lead police investigator Nelson Oliveira said. Prosecutors will decide whether to open formal criminal proceedings once investigators complete their work.
Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa visited the crash site and paid respects to the victims as public tributes were left nearby. In the United Kingdom, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said he was "deeply saddened" by the deaths. A Number 10 spokesman said the prime minister's thoughts were with the families and those affected and that Britain "stands united with Portugal during this difficult time."
Smith had posted on social media on the day of the accident about enjoying Lisbon's churches, castles, tiles and trams, sharing photos of the city's architecture and of herself and her partner. Authorities have said there were no British nationals among the injured survivors.
Emergency services and municipal teams worked through the night at the scene to remove wreckage and aid survivors. Local officials closed off the area around Restauradores Square while investigators and technical teams conducted on-site examinations. Carris and Portuguese authorities said they would co-operate with inquiries and that any further safety measures would be determined after the investigations conclude.
The Elevador de Glória is one of Lisbon's historic funiculars, used by millions of residents and visitors. The accident prompted renewed questions about the maintenance and oversight of the city's heritage transport systems and has led to calls for a thorough review of safety practices on other historic lines. Authorities have urged patience while investigators gather evidence and analyse mechanical records related to the operation and maintenance of the funicular.