An investigation is under way after the bodies of a British man and woman were found in an apartment in Estoril, on the Portuguese Riviera, west of the capital Lisbon.
The couple has not yet been officially identified, but local press quoted social media, naming them as Richard and Deborah Johnson.
The English language newspaper Portugal Resident cited a post on Facebook made by one of their children: “My parents Richard and Deborah Johnson have not been reachable since Wednesday night which is very concerning!!!! They have been residing in Estoril — if you know them or have any information please message me! PLEASE SHARE.”
The newspaper said they were discovered in their apartment in Alapraia, a residential district of the Cascais municipality.
The report quoted local sources as saying: “Estoril firefighters were called to open the door of a home in Alapraia, and found a tragic scene. In the house, located in a quiet residential area, the operatives found the lifeless bodies of a man and a woman, both British nationals. The incident took place on Friday January 3, at around 17.10.
“The action was prompted by a distress call from Inem’s Codu [Portugal’s emergency medical services]. As soon as they arrived at the scene, the firefighters broke down the door and found the couple in critical condition.
“Resuscitation manoeuvres were immediately carried out, but the deaths were confirmed on the spot, leaving a mark of sadness and mystery as to what had happened in the house.”
The bodies were said to have been removed for post-mortem examinations.
According to the Portugese news site Diário do Distrito, “the identity of the victims has not been revealed”, but “authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances of the case”.
Another news website described the dead couple as South Africans. Correio da Manha said their bodies were found “lying on the floor of the house, in different places”.