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ITV News
a day ago
- Automotive
- 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."
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Club pays tribute to UK footballer twins, 20, killed along with mum, dad & 2 others in horror Portugal head on crash
A FOOTBALL club has vowed tragic twins Afonso and Domingos will be 'never forgotten' after they were among six killed in a horror head-on smash in Portugal. The 20-year-old siblings, their dad Domingos Serrano, 55, wife Maria Joao, 51, and two others all died in the early hours of Saturday. 5 A football club has paid tribute to twins, 20, and parents, 55 & 51, killed in head-on smash in Portugal Credit: 5 Domingos and Afonso, 20, used to play at Thetford Town Youth FC Credit: Solarpix 5 The family had just rented a Nissan Juke at Faro Airport before they smashed into another vehicle on the IP2 main road near Castro Verde. The 19-year-old girlfriend of one of the twins – believed to be of Polish origin but living in the UK – was also killed, along with the other driver, 36-year-old Ruben Goncalves. Local reports said Goncalves, from Almodovar, worked at the Neves-Corvo zinc-copper mine and had a four-year-old son. Thetford Town Youth FC, where the twins once played, paid tribute in a heartfelt Facebook post. It read: 'Thetford Town Football Club would like to pass on our sincere condolences to the Serrano family and the local Portuguese community after the recent tragedy while on holiday. 'Afonso and Domingo's were both an integral part of our U18's team in recent years, both brothers sadly passed away in Portugal with their parents and friends in a tragic car accident.' The club said their loss would leave a 'massive void' in the local community, signing off with a Portuguese phrase meaning: 'They are gone, but they will never be forgotten.' It added in a separate post: 'They will be sadly missed. Condolences to all their family. Rest in peace.' Shocked locals have also shared their condolences online. Heidi Smith commented: 'Absolute shock a lovely family and will be missed.' Brit granddad, 62, 'was in RELATIONSHIP with daughter-in-law, 33, he tried to drown in Florida resort pool' Michelle Jermy added: 'Absolutely heartbreaking. Such a loss, condolences to all those grieving and thinking of family, friends and the wider community processing the pain from this sad news. Rest in peace.' Louise McLaughlin, from Thetford, said: 'Absolutely heartbreaking. Rest in peace.' Tania Marques Da Cruz wrote: '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.' Cesar Caleiro said: 'My sincere condolences to the loved ones of those killed. Mourao must rally round to comfort the families of the victims.' The crash happened around 1.40am on a stretch of road where the speed limit is 49mph. The family – originally from Mourao in the Evora district but long settled in England – had landed at Faro Airport just hours earlier and were driving north for their summer break. Domingos, believed to live in Thetford, Norfolk, had celebrated his 55th birthday only two days before boarding the flight to Portugal. A source close to the investigation said the wreckage was so severe 'officers could only recover half a number plate' before piecing together who was inside. The grim discovery came after the couple's daughter called police, unable to reach her parents or brothers after hearing about the crash. The insider said: '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 GNR police force is investigating the cause of the smash. Mourao town hall has declared two days of mourning from Sunday. A spokesman said: '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. 'We inform you that all activities and events promoted by the Municipality are cancelled for the entire weekend.' 5 Twins Domingos and Afonso, 20, dad Domingos Serrano, 55, and mum Maria Joao, 51, died in a horror car crash in Portugal Credit: Solarpix
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Club pays tribute to UK footballer twins, 20, killed along with mum, dad & 2 others in horror Portugal head on crash
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A FOOTBALL club has vowed tragic twins Afonso and Domingos will be 'never forgotten' after they were among six killed in a horror head-on smash in Portugal. The 20-year-old siblings, their dad Domingos Serrano, 55, wife Maria Joao, 51, and two others all died in the early hours of Saturday. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 A football club has paid tribute to twins, 20, and parents, 55 & 51, killed in head-on smash in Portugal Credit: 5 Domingos and Afonso, 20, used to play at Thetford Town Youth FC Credit: Solarpix 5 The family had just rented a Nissan Juke at Faro Airport before they smashed into another vehicle on the IP2 main road near Castro Verde. The 19-year-old girlfriend of one of the twins – believed to be of Polish origin but living in the UK – was also killed, along with the other driver, 36-year-old Ruben Goncalves. Local reports said Goncalves, from Almodovar, worked at the Neves-Corvo zinc-copper mine and had a four-year-old son. Thetford Town Youth FC, where the twins once played, paid tribute in a heartfelt Facebook post. It read: 'Thetford Town Football Club would like to pass on our sincere condolences to the Serrano family and the local Portuguese community after the recent tragedy while on holiday. 'Afonso and Domingo's were both an integral part of our U18's team in recent years, both brothers sadly passed away in Portugal with their parents and friends in a tragic car accident.' The club said their loss would leave a 'massive void' in the local community, signing off with a Portuguese phrase meaning: 'They are gone, but they will never be forgotten.' It added in a separate post: 'They will be sadly missed. Condolences to all their family. Rest in peace.' Shocked locals have also shared their condolences online. Heidi Smith commented: 'Absolute shock a lovely family and will be missed.' Brit granddad, 62, 'was in RELATIONSHIP with daughter-in-law, 33, he tried to drown in Florida resort pool' Michelle Jermy added: 'Absolutely heartbreaking. Such a loss, condolences to all those grieving and thinking of family, friends and the wider community processing the pain from this sad news. Rest in peace.' Louise McLaughlin, from Thetford, said: 'Absolutely heartbreaking. Rest in peace.' Tania Marques Da Cruz wrote: '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.' Cesar Caleiro said: 'My sincere condolences to the loved ones of those killed. Mourao must rally round to comfort the families of the victims.' The crash happened around 1.40am on a stretch of road where the speed limit is 49mph. The family – originally from Mourao in the Evora district but long settled in England – had landed at Faro Airport just hours earlier and were driving north for their summer break. Domingos, believed to live in Thetford, Norfolk, had celebrated his 55th birthday only two days before boarding the flight to Portugal. A source close to the investigation said the wreckage was so severe 'officers could only recover half a number plate' before piecing together who was inside. The grim discovery came after the couple's daughter called police, unable to reach her parents or brothers after hearing about the crash. The insider said: '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 GNR police force is investigating the cause of the smash. Mourao town hall has declared two days of mourning from Sunday. A spokesman said: '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. 'We inform you that all activities and events promoted by the Municipality are cancelled for the entire weekend.' 5 Twins Domingos and Afonso, 20, dad Domingos Serrano, 55, and mum Maria Joao, 51, died in a horror car crash in Portugal Credit: Solarpix
The Guardian
2 days ago
- The Guardian
UK family killed in car crash on holiday in southern Portugal
A UK family have been killed in a car accident while holidaying in southern Portugal, local authorities have confirmed. Domingos Serrano, 55, his wife, Maria, 51, and their 20-year-old twin sons, Afonso and Domingos, died when their car collided with another vehicle on Saturday on the IP2 motorway near Castro Verde, in the Alentejo region,. Also killed in the crash was a 19-year-old woman reported to have been the girlfriend of one of the twins, along with the 26-year-old driver of the other car involved. The family were reportedly on their way from Faro to Mourão, in Portugal's south-east, where they regularly spent holidays. The victims, originally from the Mourão area, lived in Thetford, Norfolk. Though they were resident in the UK, it is understood they were not British nationals, according to Sky News. In a statement, the municipal council of Mourão confirmed the deaths and declared two days of mourning. '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.' The council announced the cancellation of all municipal activities and events across the weekend as a mark of respect. Tributes have been paid to the family by non-league Thetford Town Football Club, where the twins had played for the under-18s team. In a post shared on social media, the club said: 'Thetford Town Football Club would like to pass on our sincere condolences to the Serrano family and the local Portuguese community after the recent tragedy while on holiday. 'Afonso and Domingo's were both an integral part of our U18's team in recent years, both brothers sadly passed away in Portugal with their parents and friends in a tragic car accident. The loss of this lovely family will leave a massive void in the local community.' 'Partiram, mas nunca serao esquecidos,' the club said, which translates to: 'They are gone, but they will never be forgotten.' An investigation into the cause of the crash is under way.
ITV News
3 days ago
- ITV News
Thetford Town football club pay tribute to family-of-four who died in crash on holiday in Portugal
A football club has paid tribute to two brothers who were killed in a car crash, alongside their parents while on holiday in Portugal. Afonso and Domingo Serrano, were travelling in the same car as their parents and a young woman, reported to be girlfriend of one of the men, when they were involved in a crash near Castro Verde on Saturday August 9. In a post on Facebook, Thetford Town Youth Football Club spoke of the 'massive void' the loss of 'this lovely family' would leave. "Thetford Town Football Club would like to pass on our sincere condolences to the Serrano family and the local Portuguese community after the recent tragedy while on holiday" said the statement. "Afonso and Domingo's were both an integral part of our U18's team in recent years, both brothers sadly passed away in Portugal with their parents and friends in a tragic car accident. "The loss of this lovely family will leave a massive void in the local community." The Municipal Council of Mourão, where the accident happened, announced on Facebook that two days of 'municipal mourning' would come into effect from today, Sunday, for the death of five family members. In a statement the council said "In the car there were four occupants, of Mouranese nature, and a young woman with affinity to the family. Residents in England, follow from Faro to Mourão, for the usual and deserved vacation. "It is with great regret that the Municipality announces this information, offering its condolences to the families and friends of the victims. "We would like to inform you that all activities and events promoted by the Municipality are canceled throughout the weekend.
