An American lecturer was among the 16 people who died in a tram crash in the heart of Lisbon’s historic district.

Heather Hall, who worked at the College of Charleston in South Carolina, was on the funicular when it derailed, careered down a steep hill and crashed into the side of a hotel on Wednesday evening.

Ms Hall, who specialised in literacy and special education, was in Portugal to speak at a conference when she decided to go on the funicular.

The mother-of-two was killed alongside British couple Kayleigh Gillian Smith, 36, and William Nelson, 44, and 13 others, including an 82-year-old British man who has not been named. A further 22 were injured, five of whom remain in serious condition in hospital.

Ms Hall’s family said they were grieving for their “beloved daughter, sister, mother, educator, and advocate”.

Her family said: “Heather Lynn Hall passed away doing what she did best – living life fully, boldly, and with a heart wide open to the world. Heather grew up in a home overflowing with unconditional love. That love expanded outward, reaching every corner of her life.

“She didn’t just have friends – she had soul-deep connections with people who felt truly seen and cherished by her. She believed in [her children] with all her heart and wanted nothing more than for them to live their lives fully.”