Switzerland nightclub fire: Moment waitress holds sparkler in air before horror blaze

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FC Metz has announced that Tahirys Dos Santos, a youth player for the club originally from Mont-Saint-Martin, was injured in the fire.

Tahirys suffered severe burns and was airlifted to a hospital in Germany, where he is currently receiving treatment.

A spokesperson for the club said: "Deeply affected by this news. The club's management, players, coaches, and staff are in shock and extend their heartfelt condolences to Tahirys during this difficult time as he battles his illness.

"The club also wishes to offer its full support to his family and is working with medical authorities to arrange for Tahirys' transfer to Mercy Hospital, near his home.

"Updates on Tahirys' condition will be provided should there be any significant changes. In the meantime, FC Metz asks everyone to respect the privacy of Tahirys and his family."

Sixteen-year-old Achille Barosi entered Le Constellation at around 1:30am on New Year’s Day to collect his jacket and phone, which he had left inside the club. His family has not heard from him since.

“We don’t know where Achille is. We hope he may be in one of the hospitals… but he’s missing,” his aunt Francesca told OS on the BBC World Service. “We don’t know if he’s still alive.”

The attorney general said the sparklers were raised too near the ceiling, while confirming investigators are “pursuing several hypotheses.”

Prosecutor Beatrice Pilloud says that the sparklers "are birthday candles you can buy in a shop".

She explains "we can all have access to them" and says that an investigation will be looking into the sparklers and whether they are ok to use in a closed space.

Eric Bonvin, director general of the Valais Hospital, says that 55 people with "severe injuries" were taken to hospital on the night of the incident.

Out of the 11 remaining in the Sion hospital, four are in intensive care in critical condition and three are receiving surgery, he says, and another four are having surgery at nearby Sierre Hospital.

Investigators have said it could take days to name all of the victims.

About 40 people were killed in the fire that engulfed the town’s Le Constellation bar, which was packed with mainly young party goers celebrating the new year.

In a statement, Valais Attorney General Beatrice Pilloud said: "It would appear that the fire started from sparkler candles, otherwise known as flares, which were placed on top of champagne bottles.

"These flares were taken too close to the ceiling. This led to what is referred to as a flashover incident, where the fire spread very rapidly."

"We will be able to investigate whether any individuals bear criminal liability for this incident.

"And if this is the case and if these people are alive, all the investigations will be opened for fire by negligence, homicide by negligence, and injuries by negligence."

Laetitia Brodard-Sitre, 42, is searching for her missing 16-year-old son Arthur, who was at the Constellation Bar in Crans-Montana when the fire broke out on New Year's Day.

Laetitia has said she had not seen him since he and his friends visited the bar on Wednesday.

Speaking to BFT TV, she added: "I've been looking for Arthur for more than 30 hours, but there’s no news.

"It’s an unbearable wait. I won't stop searching, I won't give up, to know if my son is alive or if he’s gone to the other side."

Ferdinand also managed to capture the horrifying moment the Le Constellation roof caught on fire.

The video footage shows flames roaring up and soon engulfing the basement.

The 19-year-old added: “With time, more and more people arrived, more and more burned.

“At this point firemen and medics were given categories. I was in the green category. There was also yellow and then red and I suppose black, but black had already been taken to the hospitals."

Student Ferdinand Du Beaudies was celebrating New Year’s Eve with seven friends when the fire broke out in front of him.

Managing to get away from the flames, he ran back into help. Speaking to reporters, he said, "I went back inside, and I found someone lying on the stairs.

"They were completely burned."

He added: "I couldn’t recognise whether it was a woman or a man. I could only see teeth.

"I grabbed them, but they were really heavy – like a dead weight.

"I took their arms and pulled them along the ground and outside. I went back a second time, but there was more smoke, and I couldn’t breathe, and I couldn’t see anything.”

Swiss officials have now confirmed that all the victims bodies have now been removed from Le Constellation bar.

Speaking to Reuters, the official confirmed that police are continuing to investigate the cause of the fire.

More photos from the New Year's Eve party appear to show even more sparklers being used at the bar in the Swiss ski resort.

Another photo appears to show the flames as they first broke out.

Photos are circulating on social media, appearing to show champagne bottles with large sparklers being lit in them.

The photos show several of these champagne bottles being lit in the basement of the bar.

The FCDO has issued advice for Brits affected by the fire, advising anyone concerned to call a dedicated Swiss phone line.

Their statement added: "Following the fire in Crans-Montana on 1 January, the Swiss authorities have opened a dedicated phone number for Swiss and foreign nationals affected by this incident.

"Swiss authorities recommend that people seek to contact loved ones on all available channels (email, social media, phone) before attempting to call. You can call +41 848 112 117. You may be asked for proof of kinship if you ask for information about your close family."

New photos show the lines of forensic tents outside the bar as investigators continue their work.

Speaking on radio RTL, Stephane Ganzer, head of safety for the canton of Valais, has warned that the death toll could still rise, with many of the victims still in a critical condition.

Many people not seen or heard from by their families are believed to be among the dead, but the severity of their burns is making identification difficult for authorities.

Ms Ganzer added: "There are around 100 injured in critical condition. The death toll is terrible and it could get worse."

Hundreds of people gathered at a makeshift memorial outside the bar on the evening of New Year’s Day, with family and friends, many in tears, paying their respects.

Hundreds of people, including many in tears, are now gathered around a makeshift memorial near the bar.

Despite the crowds, the vigil was reportedly remarkably quiet, with many standing in silence to remember their loved ones.

According to reports from Sky News, the Italian foreign ministry has said that a total of 47 people died in the Swiss fire.

Officials also told the outlet that 10 of the victims involved were Italians who have been taken to hospital, with five more victims still missing.

They also revealed that three people have been transferred to Milan Hospital for further treatment.

More details about the first-named victim, Emanuele Galeppini, have emerged, with the teenager being among the world’s best golfing youngsters.

Emanuele was widely regarded as a promising young talent" by the Golf Digest website, describing himself on the World Amateur Golf Ranking, he said he "loves to golf, compete and eat".

The teenager has been a member of the junior Italian national team, and he even scooped a title at the Omega Dubai Creek Amateur Open last year.

Officials in Crans Montana have warned that the hospitals in the region remain under pressure as they treat more than a hundred victims from the bar fire.

President of the region Mathias Reynard told Swiss radio that many staff have been drafted in from their days off.

He also revealed he was considering flying in French burns specialists to try to ensure the best possible care.

Teenager Emanuele Galeppini is the first victim to be named in the aftermath of the Swiss bar fire.

A talented golfer, the Italian Golf Federation announced the news this morning.

Posting on social media they shared he was a “young athlete who embodied passion and authentic values".

"In this time of great sorrow, our thoughts go out to his family and all those who loved him."

A large part of the investigation is continuing to look at how the fire broke out.

Authorities are yet to release any information or early theories on how the fire was started; however eyewitnesses at the New Year’s Eve party have suggested that the flames spread as sparklers in champagne bottles came into contact with the ceiling.

A UK fire investigator speaking to the BBC spoke of how flashpoints can engulf whole rooms in a matter of seconds.

President of the UK Association of Fire Investigators, Richard Hagger added: "A flashover basically is a rapid development of fire within a compartment. You'll start with a fire, the flames and the thermal radiation will go to the ceiling level and mushroom out across.

"That thermal radiation then travels downwards on to other fuel packages, such as furniture, tables, raises the temperature to the point when they thermally decompose and produce flammable gas.”

Two days after the deadly fire at Le Constellation the search for the victims involved is continuing, with police and fire investigation crews once again flooding to the scene at the popular ski resort.

Red and white forensic tents line the street around the bar, with police tape cordoning off a big section of Crans-Montana.

Local authorities confirmed that around 40 people died in the blaze, but identifying the bodies is becoming a challenge for officials who warn that families could have to wait weeks to receive the news.

Welcome to today's live coverage as we bring you the latest developments on the sad events in Switzerland over the New Year.

Check back here for the latest updates as and when we get them.