A New Year’s Eve blaze at Le Constellation in Crans-Montana killed 40 people and injured 116, most of them teenagers. Seven players from FC Lutry, a lakeside town of about 10,500, were among the dead, leaving the club and community in deep mourning. Funerals, memorials and a community ribbon project using a ship's sail have brought residents together, while the club has opened a hotline to support families and friends. Nearby Champittet school reported fatalities among students and alumni, and several players remain hospitalized.
Small Swiss Town Mourns ‘Decimated Generation’ After Deadly New Year’s Bar Blaze
Seven members of the local football club in Lutry died in the Swiss bar fire (Fabrice COFFRINI)(Fabrice COFFRINI/AFP/AFP)
A small Swiss village is reeling after an "unimaginable" New Year’s Eve fire tore through the Le Constellation bar at the Crans-Montana ski resort, killing 40 people and injuring 116 — most of them teenagers. The disaster has hit the lakeside community of Lutry particularly hard: seven members of the local football club, FC Lutry, were among the victims.
FC Lutry president Stephane Bise described the scale of the loss: "We have a generation here that has been decimated. It will be very, very difficult for those who remain to recover." The club and the wider town — home to roughly 10,500 residents on the shores of Lake Geneva — have entered a period of intense mourning, with funerals, memorials and community support activities continuing across the week.
In a nearby church, dozens gathered to say a final goodbye to Arthur, a 16-year-old junior player and coach at FC Lutry who was about to turn 17. Supporters placed candles, flowers and small decorated footballs on the church steps; a poster at the entrance displayed a drawing of Arthur and his younger brother with the words: "Your little brother and your family will never forget you." His mother, Laetitia Brodard-Sitre — also a coach at the club — spoke publicly about her desperate search for her son in the immediate aftermath.
Community Response
Pastor Alain Brouze emphasised the importance of young people being able to gather, speak and support one another: "They are the ones on the front lines." Several funerals and services have taken place throughout the week. Parishioners created a memorial wall behind the altar for messages and prayers; messages left there included "May you rest in peace, little angels" and "Thinking of you. You're my favourite coach."
In Lutry, the club has set up a hotline for families and supporters and organised a ribbon memorial using strips cut from the sail of a legendary local ship. People have been invited to write messages and tie them to the fence around the pitch as a way to grieve collectively and show solidarity. One message reads: "You are children, fly free to paradise," accompanied by a drawing of a dove and hearts.
Wider Impact
Beyond the seven FC Lutry players who died, five other players were still hospitalised at the time of reporting, and the girlfriend of one player was among the deceased. Nearby private international school Champittet reported fatalities among current students and four alumni, some of whom played for FC Lutry. Some Lutry residents travelled to Crans-Montana to help rescue and support survivors and witnesses of the blaze.
Those who knew the young victims described close, lifelong connections: parents, teammates and friends who had grown up together at school, on the football fields and in the community. Sophie Bise, wife of the club president, said many of the victims had been known to families since they were four years old, underlining how deeply the loss is felt across the town.
How To Help: FC Lutry has published a hotline for families and supporters, and the community continues to organise memorials and support services for those affected.
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