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The fiancée of a man who died in a hit-and-run incident in Dublin city center desperately tried to phone him before a garda responded with the devastating news that he had been in an accident.
At around 10.30pm on Monday, Thiago Cortés (28) was at North Wall Quay and was about to finish his shift with Deliveroo and return home to his fiancee Tereza in Portobello, when he was hit by a car that did not stop .
Her friend Laura told independent.ie Tereza was concerned when Thiago did not respond to a text message she sent, and then a friend sent a message to her shared WhatsApp group about a Deliveroo worker who was shot down in the city.
“Tereza was calling him and she was calling him, but then a garda answered the phone and told him that Thiago was in the hospital,” Laura said.
“Teresa went straight there and stayed with him, and my husband and I arrived around 2 am. We couldn’t believe it when Tereza told us that she might not make it. She is devastated but is trying to be strong “
Thiago and Tereza came to Ireland from Brazil in 2018 to study and work.
“They had known each other for five years, and only a few months ago they got engaged. Thiago bought the ring here in Ireland. They had planned a future here together, ”Laura said.
She was working with the food delivery company for a few weeks and it was a job earning income until the pandemic restrictions were lifted.
“Thiago was a very good friend. He had many friends. It helped everyone. His dream was to come to Ireland to study. He and Teresa were best friends, ”he said.
Another friend of Thiago, Vinicius, described him as: “an incredible person who always made everyone around him happy.”
“He was a young man full of dreams and plans who was loved by all who knew him,” he added.
The life support machine that was keeping Mr. Cortés alive was turned off at Mater Hospital around 9 am this morning.
Thiago’s father, Celso Cortes, paid tribute to his son.
“It will be impossible to forget the day my most precious asset was stolen from me,” he wrote on Facebook.
“Today my dear son passed away, I am repulsed by how death took him so unexpectedly.
“It is difficult to face this reality when it comes to someone so young, with so many things to live for. But life has never been fair and I will try to hold on to the best memories every day so that a little peace invades my heart.
“Rest in peace my dear son, one day we will meet again.”
Gardaí on Store Street has devoted significant resources to investigating the incident.
A light-colored 05 Ford Focus with a registration hatchback, believed to be involved in the crash, was found parked near Castleforbes Square.
It is understood that up to four people fled the vehicle.
There was obvious damage to the car, with the roof folded down and the windshield pushed inward by the force of the impact.
The bicycle was bent and twisted in place, along with one of the cyclist’s shoes.
An event will be held at the Spire on O’Connell Street, Dublin today between 5 pm and 8 pm to remember Thiago. People have been asked to light candles.
“Our thoughts go out to his family and friends, his fellow delivery cyclists and the broader Brazilian community in Dublin,” said a spokesman for the Dublin Cycling Campaign.
“This is a tragedy and a terrible loss,” Deliveroo said in a statement.
“Our condolences, thoughts and prayers go out to the rider’s family and friends.
“We will do everything possible to ensure that the rider’s family is supported during this extremely difficult time.”
Gardaí has called for witnesses or anyone with information about the incident to come forward.
It is understood that much progress is being made in the investigation.
Officers have called for anyone on North Wall Quay, North Wall Avenue, East Wall Road, Sheriff Street Upper, Castleforbes Road or Castleforbes Square between 10:15 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Monday to get in touch.
Anyone with information should contact the incident room at Store Street Garda Station on 01666 8000 or the confidential Garda line 1800 666 111.
Online editors
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