Quebec native André Bergeron and his wife, Blandine Daux, a Canadian permanent resident and French citizen, tragically lost their lives in the recent funicular accident in Lisbon, as confirmed by Bergeron’s brother to CBC News. The couple, who were on the final day of their vacation in Portugal, were involved in the derailment incident, which occurred during what was meant to be a retirement and birthday celebration for André Bergeron, who had recently retired from the Quebec conservation center in Quebec City where both he and Daux had been employed.
Eric Bergeron, the brother of the deceased, expressed profound shock and disbelief at the loss, noting the heartbreaking reality of losing both parents simultaneously. Global Affairs Canada acknowledged the deaths of two Canadians in the crash but did not disclose their identities, leaving uncertainty regarding whether Blandine Daux was the second Canadian victim or if another individual was involved.
The tragic incident in Lisbon claimed the lives of a total of 16 individuals, including five Portuguese nationals, with 21 others sustaining injuries. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand conveyed her deepest sympathies to the victims’ families and assured that consular support was being extended to the Canadian families affected by the tragedy.
Notably, a German man initially believed to have perished in the accident was later found alive in a Lisbon hospital, with authorities offering no immediate explanation for the mistaken identification. The funicular involved in the crash, known as Elevador da Gloria, operates on a system of steel cables where one car descends to assist in pulling up the other, accommodating over 40 passengers and serving as a historic transportation landmark inaugurated in 1885.
As investigations into the incident continue, the Office for Air and Rail Accident Investigations is set to release a preliminary technical report on the crash, while a broader police report is expected within 45 days. Witnesses described the streetcar careening down a hill uncontrollably during the evening rush hour, ultimately leading to the tragic events that unfolded.
The community in Lisbon has come together in mourning, with a mass held at the Church of Saint Dominic to honor the victims, attended by dignitaries including Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas. The city has declared three days of mourning in remembrance of those who lost their lives in the devastating funicular accident.