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A tragic incident at a Swiss ski resort has claimed the life of a teenage girl who was educated in the United Kingdom. Charlotte Niddam, who previously attended Immanuel College in Hertfordshire as well as the Jewish Free School in north-west London, has been confirmed among the victims of a devastating fire at a bar in Crans-Montana. Charlotte’s family shared the heartbreaking news on social media, expressing their sorrow and mentioning that funeral arrangements would be shared shortly. The Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper, also acknowledged Charlotte’s death in a post on the social media platform X, extending her condolences to the family and friends.
The fire occurred on New Year’s Day at the Le Constellation bar, which was crowded with Swiss locals and tourists celebrating the holiday. The blaze reportedly began in the basement in the early hours of Thursday. Authorities have now identified all 40 victims, with ages ranging from 14 to 39 years old. Among them was a 15-year-old who held triple citizenship from France, Israel, and the UK—believed to be Charlotte. The victims came from multiple countries, including Portugal, Romania, Belgium, France, Italy, and Switzerland, with some holding more than one nationality.
Charlotte’s family expressed their grief in a Facebook statement, describing their daughter as beautiful and indicating that the funeral was likely to take place in Paris. They also thanked everyone for their support in the difficult days following the tragedy. According to the resort’s website, Charlotte had been working locally as a babysitter. The Foreign Secretary labeled the news as “terrible” and offered her sympathies to all affected by the loss. Immanuel College, one of Charlotte’s former schools, had earlier expressed hope and prayers for a miracle after the fire broke out.
Swiss President Guy Parmelin described the incident as one of the worst tragedies facing the country. Initial investigations point toward the probable cause being sparklers placed on champagne bottles that were held too close to the ceiling of the bar. Further inquiries will examine the materials involved in the fire, the adequacy of the bar’s fire safety protocols, the venue’s capacity, and the number of people inside at the time, according to Beatrice Pilloud, the Valais Attorney General. The aftermath has required the transfer of 35 injured individuals to specialized burns units outside Switzerland, highlighting the overwhelming scale of this devastating event
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