Sixteen-year-old Arthur Brodard, who texted his mother "Happy New Year, Mum, I love you" just after midnight on Jan. 1, was confirmed among the 40 people killed in a New Year's Eve fire at Le Constellation in Crans-Montana, Switzerland. Severe burns complicated victim identification, and families provided DNA samples to help officials identify the dead; all fatalities were identified by Jan. 4. Investigators say sparklers placed in wine bottles likely started the blaze, and two bar managers are now under criminal investigation.
Mother Confirms 16-Year-Old Son Among 40 Killed In Crans-Montana New Year’s Eve Bar Fire
REUTERS/Noemie OliveLaetitia Brodard-Sitre holds a photo of her late son Arthur on Jan. 2, 2026
Just after midnight on New Year's Day, 16-year-old Arthur Brodard sent his mother a final text: Happy New Year, Mum, I love you. He never made it home. On Jan. 3, Arthur's mother, Laetitia Brodard-Sitre, confirmed on social media that her son was among the 40 people killed in a devastating fire at Le Constellation, a crowded bar at the Crans-Montana ski resort in Switzerland.
MAXIME SCHMID / AFP via GettyFirefighters at Le Constellation in Crans-Montana on Jan. 1, 2026
The blaze erupted on New Year's Eve and ultimately injured 119 people. Severe burn injuries made identification difficult; families, including Arthur's, provided DNA samples to help authorities identify victims. By the evening of Jan. 4, Swiss officials said they had identified all of the fatalities, allowing loved ones to begin the process of mourning.
MAXIME SCHMID / AFP via GettyPolice officers at the site of the deadly fire at Le Constellation in Crans-Montana on Jan. 1, 2026
Family Response
In an emotional video shared on social media, Laetitia Brodard-Sitre said, in a translation from French, that "our Arthur has now left to party in paradise." She added that knowing his fate allowed the family to begin mourning and announced she would no longer give interviews as they grieved.
Cause And Investigation
Swiss investigators say sparklers placed in wine bottles likely ignited the fire after they came too close to the bar's low ceiling in the crowded venue. Authorities are examining whether the establishment complied with safety and fire-code regulations. Officials have opened a criminal investigation into two bar managers on suspicion of involuntary homicide, involuntary bodily harm and involuntarily causing a fire; no charges have been announced and the managers have not been publicly identified.
The tragedy has prompted widespread sympathy across Switzerland and abroad. Families have begun the difficult work of mourning while authorities continue to investigate and review safety standards to prevent a similar catastrophe in the future.
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