FC Metz defender Tahirys Dos Santos, 19, has been severely injured in the catastrophic nightclub blaze that tore through Le Constellation in Crans-Montana during New Year’s celebrations. The French footballer was airlifted by helicopter to a specialist hospital in Germany after sustaining serious burns.
Dos Santos was on holiday in the Swiss Alps with friends when the fire broke out at around 1:30 a.m. local time. Witnesses said a sparkler attached to a champagne bottle ignited the venue’s low wooden ceiling in the basement bar, triggering a rapid flashover as flames spread across combustible materials. The result was a fast-moving inferno that left more than 40 people dead and over 100 injured.
Swiss officials said burn units across the country were overwhelmed, forcing the transfer of the most critical patients to hospitals abroad. Authorities warned that many of the victims were burned beyond recognition, with DNA and dental records required to identify the dead. Italy reported up to 16 nationals missing, while France confirmed eight citizens remain unaccounted for.
FC Metz said the club was “deeply shocked,” noting that Dos Santos had been staying at a chalet and was scheduled to return to training this week. Club leadership and teammates are supporting him and his family as he undergoes treatment.
Swiss President Guy Parmelin described the disaster as one of the worst tragedies in the nation’s history, saying the scale of the loss has plunged the country into mourning at the start of the new year.
