Latest news with #DomingosSerrano
BBC News
6 hours ago
- BBC News
Thetford twins killed in Portugal crash had 'special bond'
A community rocked by a crash that killed an entire family on holiday in Portugal has described the "special bond" shared by the twin brothers who died. Domingos and Afonso Serrano, 20, along with their parents Domingos, 55, Maria, 51, and a young woman who had been with them, died on Saturday, the Municipal Council of Mourão said. The family, who were living in Thetford, Norfolk, were driving in Faro, in the Algarve, when their car collided with another vehicle on the IP2 main road in Castro Verde. A man in the other car also Marcao, said the brothers were "always together... if you saw one twin, the other was right there." Mr Marcao, a barber at Max The Barber in Thetford, had cut Afonso's hair the day before the fatal crash."They were such kind people," he said. "Even Maria and Domingos; always laughing, just very nice people." Family friend Jaden Jermy, who grew up with the twins, said he "couldn't believe" news of the fatal crash. "They [Afonso and Domingos] were very quiet when they were younger, but when they found football they sort of found their voice." he said. "They were always together and they were just so funny."Thetford Town Football Club paid tribute to the family and said the twins had been "integral" to their U18 team in recent town is home to a large Portuguese community and Kirsty Turner, club secretary of youth football team Thetford Bulldogs FC, said news of their deaths had hit it town hard."The family have lived in Thetford for a long time; I know quite a few of their relations. Always a happy-go-lucky family and very memorable," she said. Carla Barreto, mayor of Thetford said: "It's hard enough when a community loses a member, or a young person, but to lose a whole family in one go was devastating. "It's something that really digs deep."The Serrano family were living in Thetford, but were not believed to be British nationals, the UK Foreign Office said. A spokesperson from the Municipal Council of Mourão decreed two days of mourning from Sunday, following the incident. It said all activities and events promoted by the municipality would be cancelled throughout the weekend. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Heartfelt tribute paid to family killed in 'fireball' crash hours after renting car on holiday in Portugal
Heartfelt tributes have been paid to a family killed in a 'fireball' crash just hours after they rented a car while holidaying in Portugal. 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. The tragedy took place along the IP2 main road in Castro Verde where signs shows the speed limit is 80km/h. 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. Now, heartbreaking tributes have poured in for the family, who were living in the UK but are understood to have not been British nationals. 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.' Shortly following the incident, a police source close to the ongoing investigation into the early-hours said: '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 circumstances surrounding the fatal accident are being investigated by the GNR police force. 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.'
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Dad of Brit family-of-four killed in Portugal car crash celebrated milestone DAYS before trip
The father of a 'lovely' British family killed in a car crash in Portugal celebrated his 55th birthday just days before he died. Tributes have been paid for the Serrano family A "lovely" UK family was tragically killed in a devastating car crash as they began their holiday just days after one of them celebrated their birthday. Domingos Serrano, 55, his wife Maria, 51, and their 20-year-old twin sons Domingos and Afonso died at the scene after the Nissan Juke they were in, a vehicle they had hired from Faro Airport, hit another car and burst into flames. The 19-year-old Polish partner of one of the twins, who also lives in Britain and has been identified locally only by her first name of Veronica, also died in the horror collision. The awful crash took place on a bend in a main road close to the town of Castro Verde. The family were heading from Faro to Mourao around three hours drive north by Spain's border with Portugal where the dead man and his wife hailed from. It comes after the family was named and pictured following the horror crash.. READ MORE: 'Traumatised' family stranded at Palma Airport after being told they can't board Jet2 flight Town hall chiefs in Mourao have declared two days of mourning starting from today. The crash also claimed the life of a Portuguese man who was travelling alone in the second vehicle. All four family members were British passport holders and the twins are understood to have been born in the UK. It is not known how many years ago their parents left their homeland to move to the UK. Domingos, believed to live in Thetford, Norfolk, had celebrated his 55th birthday on Thursday just two days before flying to Portugal. The twins both played an "integral" role for their local football club Thetford Town Youth FC, which has expressed its condolences in a moving tribute. "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," the club said in a social media post. "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 club statement added the Portuguese words "partiram, mas numca serao esquecidos", which translates to "they are gone, but they will never be forgotten". The statement was met with a deluge of tributes from locals and admirers. Catia Vieira commented in response: "Oh no... so hard to see this! Rest in peace family... we will always remember you all with your smiles." Gemma Armes wrote: "Heartbreaking... such a lovely family. Thoughts are with family and friends." Health worker friend Eunice Ilheu Bibiu wrote on social media late last night: 'Rest in peace friend Domingos Serrano and family.' Shocked locals in Mourao also took to social media to express their shock and upset at what had happened. Tania Marques Da Cruz said: '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 wrote on Facebook: 'My sincere condolences to the loved ones of those killed. Mourao must rally round to comfort the families of the victims.' A police source close to the ongoing investigation into the early-hours accident said: '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 state of the wrecked rental car and the bodies of its occupants are said to have hampered initial attempts to identify them before a frantic call from the UK-based daughter of the couple killed in the crash. 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. Pictures from the crash scene showed the wrangled wreckage of one of the two vehicles involved in the accident on the wrong side of a crash barrier in a field where a blaze took hold after the collision and had to be put out by road where the accident occurred, at a spot where the speed limit is 80kmh, just over 20mph, wasn't reopened until just after 7am yesterday morning.
Irish Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
First picture of family who died in horror Portugal car crash on holiday
The identities of the four family members who tragically lost their lives in a car crash while on holiday have been confirmed. The victims, including 20 year old twins, their 55 year old father, their 51 year old mother, and one of the young men's girlfriends, all perished in the accident, which also claimed the life of a Portuguese man travelling alone in the second vehicle. The parents, who were tragically killed in the head-on collision in a Nissan Juke they had rented from Faro Airport, have been identified as Maria Joao and Domingos Serrano. Their twin sons, Domingos and Afonso, also died in the crash. This tragic incident follows the horrific deaths of two men on Saturday in separate road traffic collisions in Tipperary and Waterford respectively. A source close to the ongoing investigation stated: "The car was such a wreck officers could only recover half a number-plate and with that began working on trying to establish the identity. Horror on Irish roads as two people killed within hours of each other "Today 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", reports the Mirror. "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 family had rented a car from Faro Airport before the horror crash (Image: Getty Images) Following the collision, the rental car was engulfed in flames, as per local reports. The Portuguese man involved in the accident, 26 year old Ruben Goncalves, has also been identified. Ruben was employed at the Neves-Corvo mine, a zinc-copper mine southeast of Castro Verde, and had a four year old son. Images from the crash site depicted the wreckage of one of the two vehicles involved in the incident in a field, where a fire broke out after the collision. The collision occurred on a bend on the IP2, where signage indicates an 80kmh speed limit. Stunned locals took to social media today to voice their shock and distress over the incident. Tania Marques Da Cruz expressed: "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 posted on Facebook: "My sincere condolences to the loved ones of those killed. Mourao must rally round to comfort the families of the victims." The GNR local police force is investigating the circumstances surrounding the fatal accident. Town hall officials in Mourao have declared two days of mourning starting from today. Entire family of five killed in horror rental car crash in Portugal A spokesperson stated: "The Municipal Council of Mourao has decreed two days of municipal mourning, effective from tomorrow, Sunday, following the death of five family members involved in a traffic accident last night on the IP2, near Castro Verde. "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 travelling from Faro to Mourao for their usual and well-deserved holiday. "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." Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
The Sun
2 days ago
- The Sun
UK family-of-four including twins, 20, killed in head-on car crash in Portugal hours after renting car from airport
A UK family-of-four killed in a head-on crash in Portugal have been named and pictured. Twins Domingos and Afonso, 20, their father Domingos Serrano, 55, and mum Maria Joao, 51, died just hours after picking up a Nissan Juke rental car at Faro Airport. 3 3 A sweet image shows the family smiling together before tragedy struck on the IP2 main road near Castro Verde at around 1.40am on Saturday. The 19-year-old girlfriend of one of the twins, believed to be of Polish origin but living in the UK, also died. The other driver – 36-year-old Ruben Goncalves from Almodovar – was killed instantly. Local reports said he worked at the Neves-Corvo zinc-copper mine and had a four-year-old son. The family were travelling north from the Algarve towards Mourao, in the district of Evora near the Spanish border, for a holiday. Police sources said the twins' parents were originally from Mourao but had been living in England for years, with both boys born in the UK. It is not known how many years ago their parents left their homeland to move to the UK. Domingos, believed to live in Thetford, Norfolk, had celebrated his 55th birthday on Thursday just two days before flying to Portugal. A shocking picture from the scene seen by The Sun shows the mangled wreckage of one of the two cars involved, beside the road where the speed limit is 49mph. A source close to the investigation said the vehicle was so badly damaged that 'officers could only recover half a number-plate' and began using that to work out who was inside. Four friends killed in horror crash after concert as victim's aunt reveals tragic last phone call from inside doomed car Later, a daughter of the couple – unable to reach her family and fearing they were involved after hearing about the crash – contacted police, the insider added. They continued: "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 probing the circumstances of the fatal 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 canceled for the entire weekend."
