Teen Golfer Named as First Victim of Deadly Ski Resort Fire That Killed at Least 40 and Injured 115

The first victim identified in the devastating bar fire that killed at least 40 people at Switzerland’s Crans-Montana ski resort is 17-year-old Italian golfer Emanuele Galeppini.

The Italian Golf Federation confirmed Galeppini’s death in a statement shared on Instagram, saying the organization “mourns the passing of Emanuele Galeppini, a young athlete who carried passion and authentic values with him.”

“At this time of great sorrow, our thoughts are with his family and all those who loved him,” the post continued. “Emanuele, you will forever remain in our hearts.”

Italian news agency Ansa reported that Galeppini was 17 years old.

Authorities say the fire broke out during New Year’s Eve celebrations at the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana. Cantonal Police of Valais later confirmed that around 40 people died in the blaze, which is believed to have triggered an explosion, and more than 100 others were injured.

At a press conference on Jan. 2, officials said 40 people had died and 119 were injured. Of the injured, 113 have been identified. Their nationalities include 71 Swiss, 14 French, 11 Italians, four Serbian, and one each from Bosnia, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, and Luxembourg. Fourteen people have not yet been identified.

Pierre-Antoine Lengen, head of the Swiss Judicial Police, said identifying the victims remains the “absolute priority,” emphasizing that authorities are proceeding with extreme care. “No mistakes can be permitted. We need to give the correct remains back to the families,” he said, according to the BBC.

Five of the deceased victims have yet to be identified, according to Sky News and Ansa.

Attorney General Beatrice Pilloud said investigators believe the fire began when sparklers placed on champagne bottles were brought too close to the ceiling, causing the flames to spread rapidly. Pilloud said videos from the scene have been analyzed and several people have been interviewed as part of the investigation.

Stéphane Ganzer, head of the Canton of Valais’ security department, told French broadcaster RTL Matin that between 80 and 100 of those injured are in critical condition.

Speaking at a separate press briefing on Jan. 1, regional council leader Mathias Reynard said many victims suffered severe injuries and burns, adding that identifying those who died will take time.

Pilloud also confirmed that authorities have not identified any suspects and that no arrests have been made. A fire service official described the incident as an accident.

Switzerland’s president, Guy Parmelin, called the tragedy “a drama of unknown scale” during a press conference. Earlier, he wrote on X that what began as a moment of celebration had turned into a national tragedy, adding that the Federal Council’s thoughts are with the victims, the injured, and their families.

Survivors have shared harrowing accounts of the chaos inside the bar. Seventeen-year-old Laetitia Place told Reuters she narrowly escaped as crowds rushed toward narrow exits.

“We all saw really horrible things that no one should ever have to see,” she said, describing how people fell and piled on top of one another while trying to escape. “Some people were burning, and some were dead next to us. I was so scared — scared for myself, scared for my friends, scared for everyone inside.”

Another survivor, Samuel Rapp, recalled seeing people lying on the ground, some likely already dead, as he fled the bar. He later received videos showing desperate attempts to escape, with people trampling over one another and shouting for help as the fire spread.