SAILING along the Tagus River, music blared from a party boat where Julian Amaral was dancing and socialising with his cousin.
As the clock neared midnight, – and never returned.
Five days later, , leaving his devastated family desperate to understand how a night of celebrations ended in tragedy.
Portuguese police believe Julian fell overboard, with reports suggesting CCTV footage captured his final movements.
But his grieving sister Jennifer, 34, has now told The Sun the family fear foul play after being given conflicting accounts of what happened that night.
Despite claims that crucial footage exists, the family have never been allowed to see it – even after hiring a top lawyer to demand answers.
Julian, from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, had been enjoying a white party in Lisbon with his 24-year-old cousin when he disappeared shortly before midnight on September 2.
Afrobeats music was blaring as the boat made its way back towards the dock, with 204 passengers reportedly on board.
At around 11.25pm, Julian told his cousin he was heading to the toilet.
But when the vessel returned to shore, there was no sign of him.
His cousin frantically searched the boat before alerting relatives, who rushed to the dock and began desperately searching the surrounding streets.
Security staff allegedly insisted Julian had already left the vessel, even describing his departure to the family.
Jennifer told The Sun: “People were so adamant that he had left the boat. Security told us that he left the boat and described everything which led us to look on land.”
But Julian had not returned to shore.
His phone’s last known location appeared to place him in the middle of the river, prompting a major search involving divers and drones.
Five days later, his body was discovered near the Liscont Terminal dock in Alcântara.
Now, Jennifer claims the family have been told a very different version of her brother’s final moments.
According to their understanding of the CCTV footage, Julian was seen heading towards the toilet and interacting with security before making his way to the back of the vessel.
At around 11.47pm, he was allegedly captured ducking beneath a metal chain into a restricted area where steps led down towards the water.
The family have since been told he may have slipped and fallen overboard.
But Jennifer insists nobody has confirmed that the alleged fall was actually captured on camera.
She said: “We’ve seen nothing or know nothing. We’ve just been told he drowned.
“There’s nothing that makes us think he drowned.”
Jennifer claims a woman who said she worked for the boat company told the family after contacting them on social media that she had watched the footage and seen a body floating in the water.
Yet neither police nor the company have confirmed this account to the family.
Jennifer says the woman, other members of staff and the company’s CEO have all seen the recording.
But despite their lawyer requesting access, Julian’s relatives have been unable to view the footage themselves.
She said: “A young boy has died in your country, you allegedly have the CCTV but we haven’t been shown anything. We’ve just been told a series of events.”
Questions have also emerged over security aboard the party boat.
Jennifer claims 204 passengers were counted boarding the vessel, but nobody was counted as they disembarked.
She said seven marine specialists and up to four security guards were on board, yet nobody was guarding the restricted area where Julian was allegedly last seen.
And the family are demanding to know why when he was later found dead in the river.
Jennifer asked: “How come the police haven’t questioned security for being so quick to lead the family to looking on land?”
Portuguese authorities initially believed Julian had disembarked when the boat docked shortly before midnight.
But as the search continued, investigators began focusing on the possibility that he had fallen into the Tagus.
A Maritime Police chief said at the time: “The strongest indications are that he may have fallen into the water.”
His body was eventually recovered by firefighters before being taken for an autopsy.
Now, Julian’s family have joined the legal proceedings as an assistant party and hired leading Portuguese lawyer Rui Patrício to help uncover the truth.
They are demanding access to the post-mortem report and CCTV footage to establish whether any safety failures or third-party involvement contributed to his death.
And they insist they will not accept the case being closed until they know exactly what happened to him.
Jennifer said: “It’s so unfair for us as a family having to grieve and fight this battle at the same time.”
The heartbroken sister previously described Julian as her “baby” brother and the person she could always rely on.
She said: “He has such a bright future ahead of him and he is one of the friendliest people you will ever meet.
“He is the most kind-hearted person in my life. Just so bubbly and personable. He is so loved, he’s got nieces and nephews who are hurting.”
In an emotional social media appeal before his body was found, Jennifer wrote: “He is the brother I laugh with, vibe to music with, definitely tell off the most lol, but also the brother that would do a two-hour journey to look after his niece because I’m sick.
“He’s the brother that calls me for advice or to tell his secrets to.
“He’s the brother that annoys me one second then we’re hugging and laughing the next.”
And in a heartbreaking message to Julian, she added: “To Julian, I love you so much bro. I miss you so much. I need you to be okay and to come back to us.”
The Sun has contacted the Portuguese police for comment.
The boat company, Veltagus, said in a statement to The Sun: “We can confirm that, unfortunately, the fatal incident mentioned did occur, a situation which we deeply regret.
“We would like to inform you that Veltagus has cooperated with the relevant authorities, providing all the information and CCTV footage relevant to the investigation, which is currently ongoing.
“In this regard, and given that the case is subject to judicial confidentiality, we are unable, at this stage, to make any further statements or disclose any information regarding the circumstances of the incident.
