A footballer caught up in the deadly fire at a Swiss nightclub has burns covering 30 per cent of his body after he was airlifted to hospital following New Year’s Eve disaster.
The fire at the Le Constellation nightclub, located in the ski resort town of Crans-Montana, killed at least 47 people and injured 115.
In a statement, French football club FC Metz announced that their youth team player Tahirys Dos Santos, 19, is among those to have been injured.
His agent, Christophe Hutteau, provided more detail on Friday, telling BFMTV of the severity of the footballer’s injuries.
“He was transferred last night (Thursday) to a specialized burns center in Stuttgart, Germany,” he stated. “The latest news I received was this morning (Friday) 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.
Metz player Brian Madjo shared a message of support to two footballers injured in the fire at a Swiss ski bar on New Year’s Eve
A grab of a video obtained from the X account of @Tyroneking36852 shows a fire in a bar in Crans-Montana, a ski resort in the canton of Valais, Switzerland, early on January 1, 2026
‘The positive point is that his lungs, which were also affected, have improved considerably since yesterday morning.’
Metz confirmed that footballer is receiving treatment in Germany after being airlifted to hospital.
‘FC Metz is deeply saddened to announce that Tahirys Dos Santos, a youth player for the club originally from Mont-Saint-Martin, was injured in the fire that occurred in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, on New Year’s Eve,’ a club statement read.
‘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.’
Metz manager Stephane Le Mignan expressed his shock on Friday and said his squad had been affected by the news.
‘We are all shocked by the news concerning Tahirys. Our thoughts are with him,’ he said.
‘We know he is suffering and we are closely monitoring his progress. We hope for good news in the coming hours.
‘He sometimes trains with us, so all the players and staff know him. We are obviously all affected by this news and we hope to see him back on the field in the coming months.’
Dramatic footage shows enormous flames rapidly spreading over the ceiling of the bar
Flowers and tributes are placed for the victims of the fire at the Le Constellation bar and lounge during New Year’s celebration, in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026
Police officers inspect the area where the fire broke out at the Le Constellation bar and lounge
Security stands in front of the sealed off Le Constellation bar, where a devastating fire left dead and injured during the New Year’s celebrations in Crans-Montana, Swiss Alps, Switzerland, Friday morning, Jan. 2, 2026
Fellow footballer Eliot Thelen, a friend of Tahirys, was also injured in the fire.
The 18-year-old, who is part of the youth team at Italian side Pescara, suffered only minor burns to his right hand.
‘Eliot was very lucky,’ his father, Carlo Thelen, Luxembourg’s director of the Chamber of Commerce, told newspaper L’essentiel.
Metz player Brian Madjo shared a message of support to Tahirys and Thelen in a post on Instagram.
Witnesses said 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 blaze spread in seconds, forcing a stampede as more than 100 partygoers, mostly teens and young adults, fought to get up a single, narrow staircase that was the only way out and then get out of the ground floor, which was also engulfed.
Swiss president Guy Parmelin said it was ‘one of the worst tragedies our country has experienced’.
Locals gave horrifying accounts of victims burning ‘from head to foot’ and bodies in the snow ‘shirtless, disfigured, burned’.
The 22 victims with the worst injuries identified so far are aged 16 to 26, with most of those in the bar reportedly aged under 20. Survivors have been taken to hospitals and burns clinics in Switzerland, France and Italy.
In Switzerland, it is legal to buy beer and wine from 16, and spirits from 18.
Police commander Frederic Gisler confirmed the fire ‘started in the basement’ and there was a crush as people tried to flee up the single staircase.
While authorities refused to speculate on the exact cause, witnesses and video footage suggest it was started by the sparkler.
Survivors said a table of customers made a large drinks order, prompting a waitress to get on her colleague’s shoulders and wave the sparkler for them. One 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 catch fire rapidly before the blaze spread through the mostly wooden building.
Social media pages for the venue were quickly taken down, but an old video shows sparklers being used liberally at Le Constellation, which has a capacity of up to300 customers.
A local bus driver said the ‘firecrackers’ are ‘banned in a lot of clubs’. ‘They should never be allowed anywhere near crowded places,’ he said. ‘This is an absolute tragedy.’
