A young Italian golfer has been identified as the first victim of a devastating fire that ripped through a packed bar at a Swiss ski resort on New Year’s Day. The fire started at the “Le Constellation” bar in Crans-Montana and has so far claimed 40 lives, though some reports say that up to 47 people are thought to have died as further victims are identified.
A Rising Star Lost
The Italian Golf Federation said on Friday that, 17-year-old Emanuele Galeppini, had died in the fire. Emanuele was a promising young athlete, who was living in Dubai and was regarded as an up-and-coming amateur golfer. He was in the Swiss Alps with friends to ring in the New Year.
The family last spoke with him at midnight, 90 minutes before the fire. Tributes have flowed from across the world, with the Federation calling him a “young athlete who bore passion and true values.” Other well-known golfers, among them Nick Faldo and Tommy Fleetwood, expressed their sadness and called him an extremely talented young man with a great future.
A Night of Party Celebrations Turns Deadly
The fire broke out at around 1:30 a.m. on Thursday when the bar was serving about 300 patrons. The fire spread with terrifying speed, witnesses said. Two young women who fled the restaurant said they saw a waitress holding a bottle of champagne with a lit “sparkler” candle on top. The candle had apparently touched the wooden ceiling and had immediately ignited it.
Since the building was wooden and the staircases were narrow, a high number of people got trapped inside. Survivors spoke of a “wall of heat” and thick smoke that made it difficult to see the exits. Some broke windows to escape, but dozens of others were less fortunate.
The Difficult Search for Answers
Forensic teams have since been working around the clock to identify the other victims. The fire was so hot that experts are being forced to identify the bodies using DNA and dental records. Officials have cautioned that it could be days, if not weeks, before the identification is complete. Authorities have said that at least 115 others were injured and that many of the victims are in critical condition, being treated by burn units throughout Switzerland, France and Italy.
The president of Switzerland, Guy Parmelin, called the fire “one of the worst tragedies” in the history of his country. He also directed that flags be flown at half-staff for five days. The cause of the blast is under investigation but police have said they do not believe it was a deliberate attack. They are concentrating on whether the bar was following safety rules and why the fire spread so quickly.
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