Quebec couple among 16 killed in Lisbon funicular crash

Two Quebec residents have been confirmed among the 16 people killed in the Lisbon funicular derailment, CTV News has learned.

The victims are Canadian citizen André Bergeron and his wife, Blandine Daux, a French national who has been a permanent resident of Canada for the past 20 years.

Bergeron’s brother, Éric Bergeron, who is in Lisbon, told CTV News he and the couple’s two daughters travelled to Portugal Thursday after learning of their deaths.

“They were in love. They were a great couple. They come here for a vacation, and they die. It’s such a tragedy. My brother was my idol,” Éric said in an interview.

He added the couple had travelled to Lisbon to celebrate Bergeron’s 70th birthday and were on their final day of vacation when the funicular derailed on Wednesday.

“We had great support from the embassy. They told us where to go. They were there to receive us. They came with us to see the judiciary police — like the FBI of Portugal. They were with us every step of the way.”

Bergeron was a specialist in marine archaeology, while Daux was a heritage objects restorer. Both worked at the Centre de conservation du Québec (CCQ), according to the Ministry of Culture and Communications.

In a statement to The Canadian Press, Quebec’s Minister of Culture and Communications Mathieu Lacombe called it “very sad news” and offered his condolences.

“Both made remarkable contributions to the archaeology-ethnology workshop at the Centre de conservation du Québec,” the ministry wrote on Facebook.

“André Bergeron, one of the CCQ’s pioneers, devoted more than 40 years to restoration before retiring in 2022. Blandine Daux joined the team in 2001.”

Those killed in the accident also included five Portuguese nationals, three British citizens, two South Koreans, one American, one French, one Swiss and one Ukrainian, police said in a statement Friday.

The Elevador da Gloria, a funicular railway classified as a national monument, was crowded with tourists Wednesday evening when it derailed and crashed into the wall of a building. In addition to the 16 dead, 21 people were injured.

“We were very close. We saw each other very frequently. We were very different, but so close. It’s hard to… I’m going to wake up in a few days and say it was a nightmare, that this didn’t happen,” Éric said.

On X, Premier François Legault offered condolences to the family.

“Quebec has lost two passionate individuals who dedicated their lives to preserving our archaeological heritage. My thoughts are with their loved ones.”

Portugal’s Air and Rail Accident Investigation Bureau said it has completed its analysis of the crash site. A preliminary technical report is expected Friday.

With files from the Canadian Press.