Teen girl educated in UK confirmed to have died in Swiss bar fire

A former student of two British schools has been identified as one of the 40 victims of a devastating New Year's Day fire at a Swiss ski resort.

Charlotte Niddam, 15, was confirmed to have died in the blaze that tore through Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana during the early hours of Thursday, 1 January 2026. Swiss authorities announced on Sunday that they have now identified all 40 people killed in the tragedy.

Charlotte, who held triple French, Israeli, and British citizenship, had previously attended Immanuel College in Bushey, Hertfordshire, and the Jewish Free School (JFS) in north-west London. Her family had recently moved back to France, but Charlotte was reportedly working as a babysitter in the Crans-Montana area during the holiday period.

In a post on social media, her family expressed their "great sadness," stating: "It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beautiful daughter and sister Charlotte." Her funeral is expected to take place in Paris later this week.

Tributes and Official Reaction 🕊️

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper paid tribute to the teenager on X (formerly Twitter), writing: "Terrible news that Charlotte Niddam has been identified as one of those killed in the Crans-Montana fire. My thoughts are with all her family and friends after this devastating loss."

Immanuel College, which had previously called for the community to "pray for a miracle," expressed its heartbreak following the confirmation. The Swiss President, Guy Parmelin, described the fire as one of the country's worst tragedies and has ordered national flags to be flown at half-mast.

The Investigation into "Le Constellation"

The fire broke out around 01:30 local time in the basement of the packed bar. Initial findings from the Valais cantonal police suggest the blaze was caused by sparklers (fountain candles) attached to champagne bottles being held too close to a ceiling lined with soundproofing foam.

Beatrice Pilloud, the Valais Attorney General, confirmed that a criminal investigation is underway. Key focus areas include:

The materials used in the bar's ceiling and whether they met fire safety standards.
Whether the venue was overcrowded at the time of the disaster.
The availability and accessibility of emergency exits from the basement.

Two managers of the bar are currently under investigation for negligent homicide, negligent bodily harm, and causing a fire through negligence.

Nationalities of the Victims

The 40 victims were aged between 14 and 39, with an average age of just 19. According to Swiss police, the deceased include:

21 Swiss nationals
9 French citizens (including dual nationals)
6 Italians
1 Belgian, 1 Portuguese, 1 Romanian, and 1 Turkish national

While the fire was contained within the building, the speed of the "flashover" meant many revellers were unable to reach the narrow exit stairs. Over 110 people were injured, with many being treated in specialist burns units across Europe.