A grieving British grandmother has shared her heartbreak after her 13-year-old grandson, Alfie Hallett, was stabbed to death in Portugal — saying she believes he died trying to protect his mother.

Linda Hallett described Alfie as a kind, gentle boy with “a heart of gold”. He was killed in the family apartment in Casais, near the city of Tomar. The suspect was his mother’s former partner, named locally as Gonçalo Carvalho.

Alfie’s mother survived but was found badly injured, with reports saying she had been beaten and restrained. Neighbours helped her escape and she was taken to hospital.

As police moved in, a suspected gas explosion tore through the property. Carvalho was killed, and an officer was injured.

Alfie was born in Brighton and raised in Bognor Regis before moving to Portugal with his mother in 2016. His grandmother said she last saw him in December 2018, when Alfie returned to the UK for Christmas to spend time with his father, Mark, and meet his younger half-brother. She recalled a happy visit filled with family meals, Christmas markets, and trips to see Santa.

Mark later tried to maintain contact, but he died earlier this year after developing sepsis. Linda said she takes comfort in believing father and son are together again.

Authorities were already aware of domestic violence concerns linked to the family. Alfie is also reported to have made complaints himself in recent years.

Tributes have since poured in, including from his basketball club, which called him a cherished member of their team.