Norfolk town of Thetford in mourning after deaths of five in Portuguese road crash
Twin brothers Afonso and Domingo Serrano, 20, from Thetford in Norfolk, died along with their parents Domingos Serrano, 55, and Maria Serrano, 51, and a young woman, reported to be girlfriend of one of the young men.
All five died after their hire car was involved in a head-on crash near Castro Verde in the south of the country just hours after they had landed in Faro for a holiday to visit relations in Portugal.
A post on GoFundMe by their daughter-in-law Catia Vieira said the rented car had burst into flames, killing everyone inside.
Ms Vieira said: "They are a very lovely family, very loved from everyone around. They knew so many people around and the twins too."
The Serrano family were living in Thetford, Norwich, but were thought to be Portuguese nationals, from the area of Mourão.
The city council of Mourão in Portugal declared two days of municipal mourning after the crash, which happened in the early hours of Saturday on the IP2 highway, near Castro Verde.
In a statement they said the family were traveling from Faro to Mourão for their "usual and well-deserved vacation".
The Mayor of Thetford, who is also Portuguese, said the community back in Norfolk was shaken by the news.
Carla Barreto told ITV News Anglia the family had lived in Thetford for a long time, since the boys were quite small, and 'were very popular with the community'.
She said: 'We're grieving for the family. It's bad enough when you lose a community member, especially when it's a young person. But to lose a whole family in one go is extremely sad.'
Mrs Barreto added: 'This is something Portuguese families do, they go back to visit their home country, they visit their families, their grandparents. It's the time of year they are supposed to have a break, it's supposed to be a happy time of the year to rest, to enjoy time with family. To have something so bad happen, it's really sad.'
'The whole Portuguese community is grieving, I've been receiving messages, emails.
'We didn't just lose a family from a migrant community, of the Portuguese community, they've been a part of the community for a long time, same as me.
"We are an integral part of the community so we've lost one of our families, our members and as a family I think the whole community is grieving at the moment unfortunately'.
The local MP for South West Norfolk, Terry Jermy, said: "It is dreadfully sad news about the Serrano Family from Thetford who have died in a car accident whilst visiting Portugal.
"They were active members of the local community and much-loved. My deepest condolences to their family and all that knew them."
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ITV News
5 days ago
- ITV News
Norfolk town of Thetford in mourning after deaths of five in Portuguese road crash
A town has been left in shock after the deaths of five people in a road crash in Portugal. Twin brothers Afonso and Domingo Serrano, 20, from Thetford in Norfolk, died along with their parents Domingos Serrano, 55, and Maria Serrano, 51, and a young woman, reported to be girlfriend of one of the young men. All five died after their hire car was involved in a head-on crash near Castro Verde in the south of the country just hours after they had landed in Faro for a holiday to visit relations in Portugal. A post on GoFundMe by their daughter-in-law Catia Vieira said the rented car had burst into flames, killing everyone inside. Ms Vieira said: "They are a very lovely family, very loved from everyone around. They knew so many people around and the twins too." The Serrano family were living in Thetford, Norwich, but were thought to be Portuguese nationals, from the area of Mourão. The city council of Mourão in Portugal declared two days of municipal mourning after the crash, which happened in the early hours of Saturday on the IP2 highway, near Castro Verde. In a statement they said the family were traveling from Faro to Mourão for their "usual and well-deserved vacation". The Mayor of Thetford, who is also Portuguese, said the community back in Norfolk was shaken by the news. Carla Barreto told ITV News Anglia the family had lived in Thetford for a long time, since the boys were quite small, and 'were very popular with the community'. She said: 'We're grieving for the family. It's bad enough when you lose a community member, especially when it's a young person. But to lose a whole family in one go is extremely sad.' Mrs Barreto added: 'This is something Portuguese families do, they go back to visit their home country, they visit their families, their grandparents. It's the time of year they are supposed to have a break, it's supposed to be a happy time of the year to rest, to enjoy time with family. To have something so bad happen, it's really sad.' 'The whole Portuguese community is grieving, I've been receiving messages, emails. 'We didn't just lose a family from a migrant community, of the Portuguese community, they've been a part of the community for a long time, same as me. "We are an integral part of the community so we've lost one of our families, our members and as a family I think the whole community is grieving at the moment unfortunately'. The local MP for South West Norfolk, Terry Jermy, said: "It is dreadfully sad news about the Serrano Family from Thetford who have died in a car accident whilst visiting Portugal. "They were active members of the local community and much-loved. My deepest condolences to their family and all that knew them."
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Daily Mail
Relative of British family killed in crash hours after renting car in Portugal reveals he had a dream 'premonition' of their deaths hours earlier
A grieving relative of the family killed in a Portuguese crash hours after they rented a hire car to start their holidays has said he dreamt about the tragedy before it happened. Domingos Serrano, 55, and his wife Maria Serrano 51, alongside their twin sons Domingos and Afonso, both aged 20, tragically died at the scene near Castro Verde. The family, believed to have been living in Thetford, Norfolk, were driving at around 1.40am on Saturday when their Nissan Juke, rented just hours earlier at Faro Airport, hit another car on a bend. Maria's heartbroken brother Carlos told local media he had 'seen' the accident hours before it occurred. He said: 'I dreamt about deaths. I saw a body in the sky and several bodies lying on the ground.' The tragic couple's older children, Fabio and Rita who also live in the UK, are due to fly to Portugal today to attend the funerals of their parents and younger siblings. Rita posted a tribute photo of her parents with the twins on her Facebook yesterday before leaving. She helped police discover the identities of her relatives after hearing about the crash and calling cops to say she was worried. Domingos Serrano, 55, and his wife Maria Serrano 51, alongside their twin sons Domingos and Afonso, both aged 20 (all pictured), tragically died after their hire car collided with another vehicle along the IP2 main road near Castro Verde in Portugal at around 1.40am on Saturday It emerged today Maria had kept their visit to Portugal a secret from friends and family in Mourao, near to Evora and the border with Spain. The road where the accident occurred, at a spot where the speed limit is 80kmh, wasn't reopened until just after 7am on Saturday morning, more than five hours after it occurred. The driver of the second vehicle involved, named locally as 26-year-old Portuguese mine worker Ruben Conclaves, also sadly died. The father-of-one had been driving south of the IP2. Meanwhile, the 19-year-old Polish partner of one of the twins, identified locally by the first name Veronica, is also understood to have passed away following the collision. Pictures from the crash scene showed the mangled wreckage of one of the two vehicles involved in the accident beside the road, with the vehicle initially said to have burst into flames. The cause of the crash which claimed six lives has yet to be made public, and the circumstances surrounding the fatal accident are being investigated by the GNR police force. A police source close to the ongoing investigation into the early-hours accident said on Saturday evening: 'The rental car was such a wreck officers could only recover half a number-plate and with that began working on trying to establish the identity. 'A daughter of the couple killed alongside their twin sons, worried because she had heard about the crash in Portugal and was concerned because she couldn't contact her loved ones, rang the police to speak about her fears it was her family involved. 'With the information she gave them officers made checks with the hire car firm at Faro Airport and tragically discovered a match. 'That was how they were able to confirm the identities of the five occupants in the car with the four members of the same family inside.' The hire car they were travelling in caught fire after the crash and local reports said they had all burned to death, although it will be up to forensic experts to decide whether some or all of the occupants were already dead when flames took hold of the vehicle. Now, heartbreaking tributes have poured in for the family, who were living in the UK. Thetford Football Club described twins Domingos and Afonso as 'an integral part' of the U18s team, saying that they wished to 'pass on our sincere condolences to the Serrano family and the local Portuguese community'. The Norfolk club added: 'The loss of this lovely family will leave a massive void in the local community.' Meanwhile, Thetford Bulldogs Football Club remembered the twins, both former players for the club, as part of the 'Bulldogs family'. They added: 'Yesterday the club received tragic news that former players Dom and Alfonso Serrano lost their lives in a car accident while heading to a summer holiday. 'Dom and Alfonso were part of our Bulldogs family under Jo and Tom before transitioning to senior football. 'Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with their families and loved ones during this devastating time.' The post concluded: 'Partiram, mas nunca serao esquecidos,' which translates to: 'They are gone, but they will never be forgotten.' The tragedy, was said by Mourau authorities to have taken place during the family's 'usual and deserved vacation' as they travelled north from the Algarve. Well-placed police sources said that the twins' parents hailed from Mourao and were returning to the municipality for holidays. Mr Domingos is also said to have celebrated his 55th birthday on Thursday just two days before flying to Portugal. In a statement, Mourao's municipal council confirmed the deaths, stating: 'It is with great regret that the municipality announces this information, offering its condolences to the families and friends of the victims,' it said. 'In the car there were four occupants, of Mouranese nature, and a young woman with affinity to the family. Residents in England, [they] follow from Faro to Mourão, for the usual and deserved vacation.' Following the incident, town hall chiefs in Mourao declared two days of mourning from Sunday, with several activities and events initially planned across the weekend immediately cancelled. Devastated commenters have taken to social media to pay tribute to the family following the fatal incident. One heartbroken social media user, understood to be a close friend of the family, wrote last night: 'Rest in peace friend Domingos Serrano and family.' Meanwhile, locals in Mourao also paid their respects to the family, with one user saying: 'My most sincere condolences to all those killed. I hope their souls rest in peace. 'It's so sad to hear of people leaving their homeland and friends in search of a better life and then have their lives end like this. How unfair life is.' Another commenter added: 'My sincere condolences to the loved ones of those killed. 'Mourao must rally round to comfort the families of the victims.' A spokesperson for Mourao's Municipal Council previously said: 'The Municipality, in coordination with the family and law enforcement authorities, namely the local GNR Post in Castro Verde, obtained the number plate of the vehicle they were travelling in and confirmed the identity of the passengers at 3:35 p.m today. 'There were four occupants in the car, all from Mourao, and a young woman with ties to the family. 'Residents of England, they were traveling from Faro to Mourao for their usual and well-deserved vacation. 'It is with great sadness that the Municipality announces this information, offering its condolences to the families and friends of the victims.'
Times
6 days ago
- Times
Norfolk family of four killed in head-on crash in Portugal
A football club has paid tribute to a UK family of four who were killed in a head-on car crash while on holiday in southern Portugal. Domingos Serrano, 55, his wife Maria, 51, and their 20-year-old twin sons, Domingos and Afonso, died when the Nissan Juke they had hired from Faro airport collided with another car near Castro Verde. The 19-year-old girlfriend of one of the twins, identified locally only by her first name, Veronica, believed to be of Polish origin, also died in the crash. So did Ruben Goncalves, 26, a Portuguese man travelling alone in the second vehicle. The family had been driving through the Algarve towards Mourao, near the Spanish border, on the IP2 when the crash happened at 1.40am on Saturday.
