Police are investigating the suspicious death of a brilliant young woman who was a huge Formula One fan and had travelled to Japan to watch the Grand Prix and was later found dead after a fire was extinguished at her Tokyo hotel.
Named as Amanda Borges da Silva, 30, in Brazilian media, she was reportedly found dead at the hotel where she had been staying near the Japanese capial's Narita Airport on Thursday, 1st May.
Amanda Borges da Silva, 30, poses in undated photo. She was found dead in a hotel room in Japan. Note: Private photo taken from social media. (Newsflash/NX)
One of her friends, named as James Fernandes, told Brazilian media that she was set to board a flight from Japan to Brazil on Thursday.
He said: "She was located near Narita airport in Tokyo, it was in the early hours of yesterday morning. Her flight was on Thursday. She had been out of Brazil since March."
Amanda reportedly lived in Sao Paulo and had a degree in literature as well as a Masters degree in linguistics.
She worked as a researcher and was an avid Formula One fan and travelled to Japan to watch the Japan GP on 6th April, which Max Verstappen won.
Amanda Borges da Silva, 30, poses in undated photo. She was found dead in a hotel room in Japan. Note: Private photo taken from social media. (Newsflash/NX)
Amanda regularly shared photographs and videos online and had been showing pictures of the Japanese GP.
One of her followers said: "Thank you for all the reels, memes and all the chats, especially those about Formula One, that we talked about. I promise to never forget you, my dear friend. Watch over us from wherever you are."
The Japanese police arrested one suspect, with Japanese media saying that she had been in a building that had caught fire and that the authorities arrested a Sri Lankan man who is believed to have left the premises without putting out the fire.
Amanda Borges da Silva, 30, poses in undated photo. She was found dead in a hotel room in Japan. Note: Private photo taken from social media. (Newsflash/NX)
It is currently unclear if she burnt to death or if she died of smoke inhalation, with the authorities investigating the cause of death.
It is also unclear if the Sri Lankan man set fire to the building.
The victim's family have reportedly asked the Brazilian authorities for help to repatriate her body.
The investigation is ongoing.
(Joseph Golder / newsX)