Footballer Shows Scars After Saving Girlfriend in Swiss Nightclub Fire

A Footballer’s Journey Through Tragedy and Survival

A footballer who was severely injured in a deadly fire at a Swiss nightclub has made his first public appearance since the incident, alongside his girlfriend, whom he saved from the blaze. The fire at Le Constellation, a nightclub located in the ski resort town of Crans-Montana, claimed the lives of at least 41 people, with 115 injured and 83 treated for severe burns.

Tahirys Dos Santos, a 19-year-old youth team player for French football club FC Metz, was among those injured in the fire. It is understood that he ran back into the blaze to rescue his girlfriend, Coline. While Coline was ultimately saved, the couple recently stepped out for the first time since the incident, presenting an award at the UNFP Awards in Paris.

Wearing matching black outfits, the couple showcased their scars, including burn marks on their hands and arms. As they entered the stage, the audience applauded, and the couple presented France's female Player of the Year award to Melchie Dumoray.

The Tragic Fire That Changed Lives

Witnesses reported that a waitress waved a sparkler in a champagne bottle while sitting on a colleague's shoulders, igniting the ceiling and setting the wood-panelled basement alight. The fire spread rapidly, forcing a stampede as more than 100 partygoers, mostly teenagers and young adults, struggled to escape through a single, narrow staircase.

Swiss President Guy Parmelin described the event as "one of the worst tragedies our country has experienced." Locals shared horrifying accounts of victims burning "from head to foot" and bodies found in the snow, shirtless and disfigured.

Police commander Frederic Gisler confirmed that the fire started in the basement, and there was a crush as people tried to flee up the staircase. Although authorities have not speculated on the exact cause, witnesses and video footage suggest the sparkler was the trigger. Investigations are ongoing.

Survivors recounted how a table of customers ordered a large drinks selection, prompting a waitress to get on her colleague's shoulders and wave the sparkler for them. One survivor told local journalists that the candle was "very close to the ceiling," which caught fire "in a matter of seconds."

Video footage shows the ceiling catching fire rapidly before the blaze spread through the mostly wooden building.

Social Media and the Aftermath

Social media pages for the venue were quickly taken down, but an old video reveals that sparklers were used liberally at Le Constellation, which can accommodate up to 300 customers.

From his hospital bed, the teenager shared his experience with Paris Match. "We went downstairs because Coline had to go to the toilet," he said. "So I went with her and took the opportunity to go to the toilet too." He added, "It all happened very quickly; I didn't really think about it. I went straight to Coline, called her, she was in the toilet, and we ran up the stairs."

He ended up sitting in the bar upstairs with severe burns before being air-lifted to the hospital. A local bus driver commented on the use of "firecrackers" in clubs, stating, "They should never be allowed anywhere near crowded places. This is an absolute tragedy."

Medical Updates and Recovery

In a statement, French football club FC Metz announced that their youth team player Dos Santos was among those injured. His agent, Christophe Hutteau, provided more details about the severity of the footballer's injuries.

"He was transferred to a specialized burns center in Stuttgart, Germany," he stated. "The latest news I received was from Tahirys's parents, who drove all night to be by their son's side. I can't tell you he's doing well because he's in terrible pain. He has burns covering 30% of his body. The positive point is that his lungs, which were also affected, have improved considerably."

Dos Santos returned to action for Metz in April and recently signed his first professional contract with the club.