An individual from Ottawa tragically lost their life in the recent funicular accident in Lisbon, as reported by CBC. Aziz Benharref, a resident of Ottawa’s Orléans neighborhood, was vacationing in Portugal with his wife, Hind Iguernane, when the derailment occurred. Benharref, aged 42, had resided in Ottawa for six years with his wife and brother-in-law, where he was employed by a tech company, according to a close friend, Ayoub Sajjaa.
Sajjaa, who resides in Ottawa as well, disclosed that he had known Benharref for two decades, having initially met at university in Morocco. Describing their bond, Sajjaa expressed, “For me, he was more than a brother. He was the one who persuaded me to relocate to Canada.” Benharref’s brother, based in Montreal, is currently in Portugal to engage with the Canadian embassy there, added Sajjaa.
The aftermath of the accident proved challenging for those seeking information about Benharref, as Sajjaa lamented, “We’re just going through the dark, not knowing nothing at all.”
In a positive development, Hind Iguernane, Benharref’s wife, is recuperating in a Portuguese hospital, as confirmed by her brother, Youness Iguernane. A GoFundMe campaign highlights her multiple severe injuries sustained during the incident.
Sirene Hachache, a neighbor of Benharref, shared that he had acquired Canadian citizenship within the last couple of years. Their bond deepened during the COVID-19 pandemic, with Hachache emphasizing, “He considered us like family. He considered my mom like his mom… We just kind of became like a big family.”
The news of Benharref’s passing deeply affected Hachache, leaving her “heartbroken.” She expressed the disbelief felt by the community, stating, “We wake up in the morning and we just wonder if it was a nightmare or if it really happened.”
While Global Affairs Canada acknowledged the loss of two Canadian citizens in the accident, they refrained from confirming the victims’ identities, offering condolences to their families. Prior reports had identified a couple from Quebec among the 16 individuals who tragically lost their lives in the incident.