A British holidaymaker has expressed her shock and disbelief after witnessing a popular Austrian ski resort bar using sparklers in drinks, mere days after a devastating fire sparked by a similar device killed at least 40 people in neighbouring Switzerland.
"Horrified" Witness in Packed Après-Ski Bar
Exclusive footage obtained by the Daily Mail shows revellers dancing shoulder-to-shoulder at the five-star Elizabeth Arthotel's Schatzi bar in Ischgl, Austria, on Friday, January 2. The footage clearly shows ignited sparklers placed in three glasses on the wooden bar counter, just metres from the venue's wooden ceiling.
The Briton, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Mail she was "horrified" to see staff using the handheld fireworks. "We couldn't believe this was happening days after the tragic event in the ski resort in Switzerland which killed 40 people," she said.
The hotel is located very close to the Swiss border. The guest noted that they had even skied over into Switzerland during their holiday.
Proximity to Swiss New Year's Eve Tragedy
The incident in Austria occurred in the shadow of a catastrophic blaze at the Le Constellation bar in the Alpine town of Crans-Montana, Switzerland, on New Year's Eve. Authorities believe that fire, which swept across the bar's foam acoustic insulation, was started by a sparkler held aloft on a Champagne bottle.
The Swiss fire resulted in at least 40 fatalities and left 119 others injured. Police have now identified 24 of the victims, including a 14-year-old Swiss girl, the youngest known victim so far. Of 16 new victims identified recently, nine were under the age of 18.
Distraught parents have been searching hospitals and morgues for missing children. One mother, Laetitia Brodard-Sitre, 42, shared the poignant final message from her 16-year-old son Arthur, sent from the bar at midnight wishing her a Happy New Year.
Bar's Social Media Shows Sparkler Use Pre-Dated Tragedy
The Schatzi bar, described on the Elizabeth Arthotel's website as "one of Ischgl's hottest après-ski locations," features women dancing on the bar in gingham outfits. Its social media pages show a post from Boxing Day depicting a staff member jumping with lit sparklers in both hands.
That post was shared days before the fatal fire in Switzerland. The luxury, adults-only hotel also boasts a rooftop bar and infinity pool.
The Daily Mail has contacted the Elizabeth Arthotel for comment regarding the use of sparklers in its bar following the Swiss tragedy. The investigation into the Crans-Montana fire continues as authorities work to identify the remaining 16 victims.
