FC Metz’s rising star, Tahirys Dos Santos, sustained injuries during a tragic fire that claimed the lives of 47 individuals in Crans-Montana on New Year’s Day. Dos Santos, a 19-year-old prospect, was reportedly present at Le Constellation Bar in the Swiss ski resort when the fire erupted in the early hours.
Following the incident, Dos Santos, a reserve player, was swiftly airlifted to Germany for treatment of his burns. FC Metz released a statement on their official website expressing deep sorrow over the situation. The club confirmed Dos Santos, originally from Mont-Saint-Martin, was severely injured in the fire and is currently undergoing treatment in Germany.
FC Metz’s management, players, coaches, and staff conveyed their shock and extended heartfelt sympathies to Dos Santos as he fights his illness. The club pledged full support to Dos Santos’ family and is collaborating with medical authorities to arrange his transfer to Mercy Hospital near his residence.
Updates on Dos Santos’ condition will be shared as necessary, while FC Metz urged respect for the privacy of Dos Santos and his family during this challenging period.
The fire in Crans-Montana, suspected to have been caused by sparklers in champagne bottles, resulted in the tragic loss of 47 lives. The bar owners are reportedly in disbelief as families desperately search for missing loved ones at the scene.
Witnesses recounted the rapid escalation of the fire, with the bar engulfed in flames within seconds, prompting a frantic evacuation through a narrow exit. Besides the reported fatalities, approximately 115 individuals, mostly teenagers and young adults, sustained injuries.
Authorities described the blaze as an “embrasement generalise,” a term in French firefighting indicating a fire triggering combustible gases’ violent ignition, akin to a flashover or backdraft in English-speaking firefighting.
Victims suffered severe burns and smoke inhalation, with some requiring airlifts to specialized hospitals across Switzerland. Officials cautioned the public to exercise caution to prevent accidents that could strain already overwhelmed healthcare facilities.
King Charles III expressed deep sadness over the tragedy, extending sympathies to those affected by the fire in Crans-Montana. The monarch commended the heroic responders and emergency services while offering profound condolences to the victims’ families and those in critical condition in hospitals.