What happened: The two men, aged 27 and 29, died less than 24 hours after arriving in Portugal, with local reports indicating they drowned at a hotel in Albufeira.
What they're saying: "What was supposed to be sunshine and laughter turned into heartbreak no one could have imagined," friends wrote on the GoFundMe page set up in their memory.
The fundraisers described the men as "gentle, kind-hearted souls who brought light into every room they entered" and "the sort of men you never hear a bad word about because there simply were none."
The details: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office confirmed it is supporting the families and remains in contact with local Portuguese authorities.
Friends say the men were "deeply devoted to their families, their friends and their faith" and described them as "warm, loyal, funny and full of dreams."
According to friends, the total repatriation cost exceeds £10,000, covering legal paperwork, international funeral care and transportation costs.
At the time of publishing, £22,900 of the £20,000 goal has been raised.
The bottom line: The fundraising campaign asks for community support to help families through "this time of unimaginable grief" while covering the substantial costs of bringing their sons home.
