French footballer Tahirys Dos Santos has suffered severe burns following a deadly fire that swept through a nightclub at a luxury Swiss ski resort during New Year celebrations, leaving more than 40 people dead. The 19-year-old FC Metz defender was airlifted by helicopter to a hospital in Germany for specialist treatment after sustaining serious injuries in the blaze.
Dos Santos was holidaying with friends in the Swiss Alps when the fire broke out around 1:30 a.m. at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana. Witnesses told French media that a sparkler attached to a champagne bottle reportedly ignited the venue’s low wooden ceiling, causing the flames to spread rapidly. Swiss authorities said the fire triggered a devastating “flashover,” igniting all combustible materials almost at once inside the crowded basement club.
FC Metz confirmed that Dos Santos had been staying at a nearby chalet and was scheduled to return to training this week. The club said its management, coaching staff, and players were “deeply shocked” by the incident and are offering full support to the player and his family.
The inferno left more than 100 people injured, many critically, overwhelming burn units across Switzerland and forcing authorities to transfer some victims to hospitals in neighboring countries. Officials said identifying the deceased may take several days due to the severity of the burns, with DNA and dental records required. Swiss President Guy Parmelin described the incident as one of the worst tragedies in the country’s history, saying it had plunged the nation into mourning at the start of the new year.
