Tragedy in the Alps: Australian Teen’s Desperate Search for Friends Ends in Heartbreak as Swiss Ski Resort Bar Fire Claims Dozens of Lives
- Australian teenager Yaron Lavy, 17, narrowly escaped death after stopping to get water just before the fire broke out at Le Constellation Bar in Crans-Montana.
- His friend, also 17, was among the 40 people killed in the blaze, while another is fighting for life in a coma.
- The bar’s French owners, Jacques and Jessica Moretti, are under criminal investigation for suspected offences including homicide by negligence and arson by negligence.
Yaron Lavy’s New Year’s Eve celebrations turned into a desperate search for his friends after a devastating fire ripped through a Swiss ski resort bar, claiming dozens of lives. The 17-year-old Australian, who moved to Switzerland from Melbourne six years ago, was planning to join his friends at Le Constellation Bar in Crans-Montana just before the fire broke out, but a chance decision to stop and get water may have saved his life.
‘I was going to meet my friends at the bar, but I stopped to get water and that’s when the fire started,’ Mr Lavy said, still trying to come to terms with the tragedy. ‘I was searching for my friends everywhere, but I couldn’t find them. It was chaos.’
Within 48 hours, Mr Lavy’s worst fears were confirmed: one of his friends, a 17-year-old who he had attended football games with, was among the dead. ‘He was a very, very nice guy,’ Mr Lavy said, his voice shaking with emotion. ‘We had a lot of fun together.’
The reality of the tragedy is still sinking in for Mr Lavy, who is dreading the thought of returning to school on Monday. ‘I’m trying to distract myself, but it’s everywhere – on social media, in the news,’ he said. ‘It’s going to be tough.’
The fire, which broke out in the early hours of January 1, has sparked a criminal investigation into the bar’s owners, Jacques and Jessica Moretti. The couple, who bought and renovated the bar in 2015, are suspected of offences including homicide by negligence, causing bodily harm by negligence, and arson by negligence.
The investigation is focusing on the soundproof cladding on the bar’s ceiling, which caught fire and spread quickly. Swiss Chief Prosecutor Beatrice Pilloud said the investigation would determine whether the cladding complied with regulations and whether it was the cause of the problem.
The community in Crans-Montana is still reeling from the tragedy, with dozens of floral tributes placed around the scene. More than a dozen victims are yet to be identified, and many residents are demanding answers. But Mr Lavy hopes that the tragedy will serve as a reminder to live life to the fullest. ‘Just have fun in your life as long and as much as you can, because in an instant it could change,’ he said.
