A teenager has described a desperate fight for survival, using a table to smash his way out of a burning Swiss ski resort bar in a tragedy that has left dozens dead and more than a hundred injured.
Chaos and Flames in the Early Hours
The horrific fire broke out at around 1.30am local time (12.30am UK time) on New Year's Day inside the popular Le Constellation bar in the upmarket resort of Crans-Montana, south-west Switzerland. Shocking footage from the scene showed flames rapidly climbing to the ceiling as panic ensued.
More than 100 people were injured in the chaos, with many trapped inside the venue and forced to find any means of escape. Swiss President Guy Parmelin later addressed the nation, calling the disaster "one of the worst tragedies that our country has experienced" and a "drama of an unknown scale".
A Teenager's Harrowing Escape
Among those who managed to flee was 16-year-old Axel Clavier. He recounted how he and another guest were forced to take drastic action to save their lives amidst the "total chaos".
Axel survived the blaze by using a table as a battering ram to force a plexiglass window out of its frame. This desperate act created a vital exit point. Tragically, he was the only member of his group to make it out. He confirmed that one of his friends had died and that "two or three were missing".
Before the fire took hold, Axel noted he had seen waitresses entering the bar area carrying champagne bottles alongside speakers.
Other Survivors Tell of Similar Ordeals
Another unnamed survivor, who spoke to the AFP news agency, described a similarly terrifying experience. "We were trapped, a lot of people were trapped. We couldn’t see because of the smoke. We didn’t know how we were going to get out," he said.
He also managed to break a window to escape, stating, "I was alone and didn’t know how I could do it, but I managed to break a window and get out... Half of my clothes were gone, it was crazy." He had been in the basement with friends, some of whom did not survive.
This second witness corroborated seeing waitresses with champagne and suggested that flares or sparklers held aloft were "too close to the ceiling." He said the fire "took hold suddenly," leaving people scant time to react.
A Nation in Mourning
President Parmelin offered his condolences to the victims and their families, acknowledging that the lives of survivors have been "interrupted or damaged forever" by the events of that night. The community of Crans-Montana and the wider nation are now coming to terms with the scale of the loss from what began as a New Year's celebration.
Emergency services continue to work at the scene as investigations into the exact cause of the deadly Swiss ski resort fire are underway.
