Diogo Jota's grandfather says he learned of crash on television

Fernando Silva, the grandfather of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota, said he learned of the deaths of his two grandsons after turning on his television, in his first public account since the fatal crash that killed Jota and his brother.

Jota, 28, and his brother, Andre Silva, 25, died when the acid green Lamborghini Huracan they were travelling in was involved in a crash in northern Spain on July 3. The tragedy occurred less than a fortnight after Jota married his childhood sweetheart, Rute Cardoso, with whom he shared three young children, and about two months after he helped Liverpool win the English league title under manager Arne Slot.

Speaking for the first time since the accident, Fernando Silva described learning of the deaths while he was outside tending plants. He said his son-in-law, who was at the house with Silva's daughter, called him indoors and told him to come inside because it was late. Silva said he initially knew only that Diogo had been involved.

"I was watering the plants outside and my son-in-law, who was here with my daughter, said 'Come inside, come inside, it's late,'" Silva said. He has since said the loss occupies his thoughts every day.

The deaths prompted an outpouring of grief across the football community, with tributes paid at stadiums and by clubs and players internationally. Liverpool confirmed the club's bereavement in the wake of the crash and supporters observed moments of silence and other commemorations at matches in the weeks following the incident.

Jota had been a regular scorer for Liverpool and a member of Portugal's national team. The crash, which occurred in northern Spain, remains a focal point for ongoing mourning by family, teammates and supporters. Silva, who said the family continues to live with the aftermath of the early July tragedy, has described the period as devastating.

The family has kept many of its responses private since the crash. Details released publicly have emphasized the immediate impact on Jota's wife and young children and the broader shock felt across the sport. Club officials, teammates and national football associations offered condolences publicly in the days after the accident, and memorials on the pitch reflected the widespread sorrow.

As the family continues to grieve, Silva's interview provides a personal account of the moment he learned of the deaths and the enduring effect on relatives. He said he thinks about the two brothers "every day," and his remarks underscore the private toll behind the headlines and public tributes.