A heroic father has been credited with saving the lives of at least ten young people after a devastating fire tore through a packed nightclub in a Swiss ski resort on New Year's Eve.
The Desperate Call and a Father's Race to the Rescue
The inferno erupted in the basement of the Le Constellation nightclub in the upmarket resort of Crans-Montana in the early hours of New Year's Day. Paolo Campolo, a 55-year-old Swiss-Italian financial analyst, was alerted to the danger when his daughter called him, pleading for help as flames engulfed the venue.
Mr Campolo raced from his home in the town to the scene. He found the main entrance blocked by a crush of panicked revellers desperately trying to escape the roaring flames and thick smoke. Recognising the critical danger, he located a side emergency exit and, using his own strength, forced the door open, creating a vital escape route.
Scenes of Chaos and a Lifeline to Safety
His brave act allowed trapped party-goers, including tourists from across Europe, to scramble to safety. Speaking from his hospital bed, where he is being treated for smoke inhalation, Mr Campolo described the harrowing scene. "There were several bodies all around. Alive but burnt. Some conscious, others not," he told Italian newspaper Il Messaggero. "They were begging for help in several languages. They were very young."
He added that the most haunting memory was "the lucid desperation of those who know they're dying. Burned people looking at you and asking you not to leave them there. It's something that never goes away."
Aftermath of the Tragedy
The fire has resulted in dozens of fatalities and left more than 100 people injured. Police commander Frédéric Gisler of the Valais region confirmed the injured include 71 Swiss nationals, 14 French, and 11 Italians, alongside citizens from Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Luxembourg, Belgium, Portugal, and Poland. The nationalities of 14 people remain unknown.
Many of the victims are teenagers, as the nightclub was popular with younger age groups. Among those missing is British-educated Charlotte Niddam, believed to be 15, who studies in Hertfordshire. Friends have launched emotional appeals on social media to find her.
The owners of Le Constellation, Jacques Moretti and his wife Jessica, said they "can't eat or sleep" following the tragedy and stressed that "everything had been done according to regulation" for the event.
