Latest news with #AmandaBorgesDaSilva
South China Morning Post
08-05-2025
- South China Morning Post
Brazilian F1 superfan's death in Japan stirs nationalistic debate on foreign crime
A Brazilian influencer and Formula One fan who declared her love for Japan and told her mother she felt completely safe in the country was found dead in suspicious circumstances – just hours before she was due to fly home. Advertisement Amanda Borges da Silva, 30, died from smoke inhalation after a fire broke out in a rented flat in Narita, near Tokyo's main international airport, on May 1. Her death has triggered a criminal investigation and the arrest of an unemployed Sri Lankan man who allegedly fled the scene – as well as a wave of nationalist backlash online over foreign crime in Japan. Abaseliya Udayanga, 31, was taken into custody three days later on suspicion of setting fire to an occupied building. Japanese media reported that he left the flat without attempting to extinguish the blaze. A number of personal items were also missing, local media have quoted police as saying, including a mobile phone, jewellery and electronic devices. Reports in Brazilian media have suggested that da Silva had been drugged and that police in Japan are investigating whether her death was deliberate. Amanda Borges da Silva at Tokyo DisneySea. Photo: Instagram/ammandaborges The incident has made headlines around the world – in part because da Silva was a well-known Formula One 'superfan' who also had close to 13,000 followers on Instagram – but triggered angry reactions on social media about foreigners committing crimes that tarnish Japan's reputation for safety.
Daily Mail
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
F1 superfan 'found dead at Tokyo hotel after horror blaze' following the Japan Grand Prix - 'just hours before her flight home'
A Formula One superfan has been found dead at her hotel in Tokyo - just hours before she was meant to fly home. Amanda Borges da Silva, 30, had travelled to Japan from Brazil in order to watch the Grand Prix last month and intended to fly home on the following Thursday evening. However, according to reports, the Brazilian influencer was found dead after a fire was extinguished at the building. The cause of her death remains unclear. National media claimed that a Sri Lankan man who is thought to have left the premises without extinguishing the fire and was later arrested by authorities. Silva's friend, James Fernandes, told Brazilian media that the F1 influencer had intended to leave the country just hours before her tragic death. He said: 'She was located near Narita airport in Tokyo, it was in the early hours of yesterday morning. Her flight was on Thursday. She had been out of Brazil since March.' Japanese media reported that she had been in a building that had caught fire and that authorities have arrested a Sri Lankan man who is thought to have left the premises without extinguishing the fire. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen claimed victory at the Japan GP - with Lando Norris placing second and Oscar Piastri coming in third. Verstappen brushed off the stoppage that was caused on lap one by a crash between Daniel Ricciardo and Alex Albon, which brought out the red flag for half an hour, to cruise to victory at the Japanese Grand Prix for a third year in a row. In doing so, the triple world champion consigned the disappointment of his early retirement at the Australian Grand Prix to the history books. 'It was a very, very good win,' said the Dutchman, who has a 13-point lead over team-mate Sergio Perez at the top of the drivers' standings. 'After the first stint some tiny adjustments were made to the car and that helped me to feel even more comfortable. 'Whenever I needed to go faster, I could. Whenever I needed to look after my tyres, I could. That's always a very nice feeling when you're driving.'
