A police source told The Portugal News the couple was “still alive” when they were found at around 10.30am.

Unconfirmed preliminary information is said to indicate that the shootings could have taken place within a context of a crime of passion. Suspicions are that the incident could have been an attempted murder-suicide.

“In principal there is no third party involved”, the source said.

They were admitted to Faro Hospital at around 12.10pm Thursday afternoon and were said to be fighting for their lives 24 hours later.

Without elaborating on their clinical condition, a spokesperson for the hospital confirmed two patients, a man and woman, had arrived at the unit's Accident and Emergency ward, from Vilamoura, and were being assisted for injuries caused by a firearm.

Reports claim the couple, who are believed to be of Portuguese nationality, in their 30s and lived in Pêra, had shot wounds to the head. Newspaper Correio da Manhã claimed they have a young daughter and were going through a divorce.