Lisbon funicular crash: Two Brits among 16 killed in tram smash horror pictured

Two Brits who were among the 16 people killed in the Lisbon tram tragedy have been named.

Kayleigh Gillian Smith, 36, and William Nelson, 44, were a couple on holiday in Portugal. A third British national is also among those killed. Portuguese authorities confirmed no Brits are among the 22 others who were injured.

The disaster unfolded on Wednesday evening when a 140-year-old streetcar hurtled down a steep hill, slammed into a building, and collapsed "like a cardboard box" before landing on its side in a cobbled street just metres from another tram filled with tourists.

The couple boarded the popular tourist tram at around 6pm to enjoy a day of sightseeing in Lisbon. Kayleigh posted a series of photos on Instagram just hours before the tragedy, writing alongside them: "Churches and castles, tiles and trams."

READ MORE: Everything we know so far about Lisbon tram crash horror as three Brits confirmed dead

READ MORE: Lisbon tram crash: Three Brits among the dead after horror smash kills 16

The pair are said to have arrived in Portugal just a day before the fatal crash. Will worked as a lecturer at Manchester's Arden School of Theatre, where Kayleigh had recently graduated from.

A close friend of Kayleigh, Lesley Guymer, told The Telegraph: "Such a quirky lady, lovely, lovely lady. I've known her since she was in her teens. And Will was such a magnificent man. Big beard, charming, very, very, very lovely. Lovely family. The whole family."

Police confirmed on Friday morning the dead included five Portuguese citizens, three Brits, two South Koreans, two Canadians, one American, one Ukrainian, one Swiss national and one French citizen.

Sir Keir Starmer said he was "deeply saddened" by the incident. His spokesperson said: "His thoughts are with their families and those affected by this terrible incident. We stand united with Portugal during this difficult time." Portugal's Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, meanwhile described the crash as "one of the biggest tragedies in recent history".

The deadly disaster is believed to have been caused by a cable coming loose on one of the two cars. Passengers were trapped beneath the wreckage of the iconic Gloria Funicular as it ploughed into a hotel in central Lisbon.

Witnesses described how the carriage at the top of a steep hill sped down the road before smashing into a building and crumpling "like a cardboard box." Chilling footage captured rescuers rushing to the scene, while distressed onlookers screamed: "There's kids under there."

Witness Teresa d'Avo told Portuguese TV channel SIC: "It crashed into a building with brutal force and fell apart like a cardboard box. It crashed with tremendous force. It didn't have any kind of brakes."

Another witness told respected Portuguese newspaper Correio da Manha: "The lower lift was descending slowly, as usual, but about a metre and a half from the bottom, its brakes went and that's what alerted us, because then it hit the pavement very hard and the people inside started screaming."

When he realised another lift was heading towards them from above "completely out of control", he added: "It wasn't travelling at normal speed at all, and we only had time to turn around and start running, because we didn't know if it was going to hit the lift below. The biggest concern was that it would end up on the road leading to Rossio Square."

According to Portugal's civil protection website, 62 emergency service workers and 22 vehicles were at the scene of the crash, near the Avenida da Liberdade - a popular tourist spot.

This historic Gloria Funicular, which opened its doors in 1885 as the city's second funicular, links the lower part of Lisbon to its Bairro Alto, known as the "high neighbourhood", specifically from Praça dos Restauradores to the São Pedro de Alcantara viewpoint.

The trip lasts just three minutes, yet it ranks among the city's most famous journeys. Despite being electrified only in 1915, it has managed to retain its original characteristics.

Investigators in Lisbon are still working to piece together the events of the tragedy, which happened during the cable car's usual 2,441ft journey.