Heartbreaking news from Switzerland as a mother shares her desperate plea to locate her 16-year-old son, Arthur, and nine of his friends, missing after a tragic New Year’s Eve fire. The group was celebrating at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana when an unexpected blaze, reportedly sparked by champagne bottle sparklers, ravaged the venue.
Laetitia Brodard, Arthur’s mum, has been tirelessly searching for him, with her anguish growing each passing hour. “I’ve been looking for Arthur for over 30 hours,” she tells the story. With at least 47 feared dead, including many young people, and survivors suffering severe burns, she’s fearing the worst.
Arthur and his friends had joyfully planned their evening, booking a table in advance to welcome 2026. Now, out of the group of 11, only one has been found. “My son might be alone in a hospital or, heartbreakingly, in a morgue,” Laetitia shares, uncertain of his whereabouts since the blaze occurred.
Despite criticism about young teens being out alone, Laetitia insists they’re not irresponsible parents. In a ski resort, celebrating the New Year is common for all ages. Swiss authorities have set up a hotline to help families, but so far, information is scarce.
This disaster, described as one of Switzerland’s worst tragedies by President Guy Parmelin, has not only claimed nearly 47 lives, including first identified victim Emanuele Galeppini, but has also changed the lives of many. The tight-knit community now clings to hope and seeks closure as they navigate through this tragic event. Let’s keep the affected families in our thoughts and prayers. 🙏🕯