Survivor of Switzerland's New Year's Eve bar fire shares harrowing account of tragedy

A devastating fire at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, killed 41 people on New Year's Eve. Most of the victims were young, and around 115 others suffered serious injuries. Gaëtan, a bartender who worked that night, survived but remains deeply affected by the tragedy.

Gaëtan was working behind the bar when the fire broke out. He remembers hearing screams and frantic warnings as flames spread. Trying to help, he rushed toward the exit but was overwhelmed by smoke and collapsed on the stairs.

He spent the next eight days in a medically induced coma. When he briefly regained consciousness, he told doctors he never wanted to work in a bar again. The trauma lingers, especially as he thinks about his colleagues who didn't survive—the waitress who allegedly held the fireworks, the DJ, and a former roommate still hospitalised.

Now recovering, Gaëtan questions whether stricter safety measures could have changed the outcome. He criticises his employers, the Morettis, for not taking full responsibility and shifting blame instead. The fire has left him with lasting fear and a deep sense of loss.

The disaster at Le Constellation has left Gaëtan struggling with survivor's guilt. He feels fortunate to be alive but remains haunted by the memory of those who died. The incident has also raised serious concerns about workplace safety in nightlife venues.