Former pupil at UK school and dad missing after Swiss fire claims the lives of 40

This article is being updated frequently with new details as this is a breaking story

While many families mourn the loss of their children, others remain in agonising uncertainty as they await news about their missing loved ones. It is now the family of a student from and English college that has been hit with the hard news, following the tragic fire that took place in Switzerland on New Year’s Eve.

A former student of Immanuel College in Hertfordshire, has been reported among the missing. While it is known that she previously attended the British school, details regarding her nationality have not yet been confirmed.

The student, who has been identified as Charlotte Niddam. Her nationality is unclear.

Former teachers of the college have reportedly sent their sympathies, stating: “She is in our prayers.”

She is one of two named people confirmed as missing. Arthur Brodard, 16, from Lausanne, Switzerland, is also missing.

His mother, Laetitia Brodard-Sitre, has been near the site of blaze searching for information. “We are together, we are in shock, we take each other in our arms and we cry. We try to give each other hope,” she said.

17-year-old Emanuele Galeppini a golfer from Italy, is the first victim confirmed to have died. This comes as a footballer was reported to be severely injured in the devastating fire which claimed the lives of 47 people at Le Constellation Bar in Switzerland on New Year’s Day.

FC Metz star Tahirys Dos Santos, 19, is thought to have been celebrating the new year at Le Constellation Bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana when a fire erupted in the early hours. According to reports, the player was flown to Germany for treatment of his burns. His club has since released a statement on their official website, the Daily Star previously reported.

A club spokesman said: “FC Metz is deeply saddened to announce that Tahirys Dos Santos, a youth player for the club originally from Mont-Saint-Martin [France], was injured in the fire that occurred in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, on New Year’s Eve.

“Severely burned, the 19-year-old was airlifted to Germany, where he is currently receiving treatment. 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.” In the tragic fire in Crans-Montana, at least 47 people lost their lives, believed to have been sparked by sparklers placed in champagne bottles, reports the Mirror.

The bar owners are reportedly “completely in shock” as families continue to scour the scene, desperately searching for their missing loved ones. A photo circulating on social media depicts part of the ceiling ablaze, suggesting a sparkler ignited the material of the bar’s roof.

The fire rapidly engulfed the establishment, which underwent a refurbishment in 2015. Multiple witnesses have recounted how it took mere seconds for the bar to become a fiery inferno, with patrons scrambling to escape through a narrow exit.

Alongside the reported 47 fatalities, approximately 115 individuals have been injured – many of them aged between their teens and mid-20s. Authorities have labelled the blaze an “embrasement generalise” – a French term used by firefighters to describe a situation where a fire triggers the release of combustible gases that ignite violently, causing what English-speaking firefighters refer to as a flashover or backdraft.

Victims suffered severe burns and smoke inhalation, with some being airlifted to specialist hospitals across Switzerland. Officials have also advised the public to exercise caution in the coming days to prevent accidents that could further strain already overwhelmed hospitals.

King Charles III has expressed his deep sorrow over the fire at the resort. In a heartfelt message to the Swiss President, the British monarch said: “My wife and I were appalled, and greatly saddened, to learn of the devastating fire last night in Crans-Montana, in Switzerland. It is utterly heartbreaking that a night of celebration for young people and families instead turned to such nightmarish tragedy.

“While offering our admiration for the heroic first responders and the selfless emergency services, we wanted, above all, to convey our deepest possible sympathy to all those who have been so dreadfully affected by this horrific disaster. Our most heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with the loved ones of all those who have so tragically lost their lives and with those who remain in a critical condition in hospital.”

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