“I dragged a table and flipped it over to shield myself from the flames.” At just 16, he survived the hell inside Le Constellation — escaping only after smashing a window as fire swallowed the room. Nine of his friends didn’t make it out. Now, carrying memories no teenager should ever have, he has returned to the scene where everything changed before forcing himself to move forward. This Monday, he starts school again, far from the place that took so much from him — trying to reclaim a life forever marked by that night.

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The devastating New Year’s Eve fire at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, on January 1, 2026, claimed 40 lives and left 116 people injured, many with severe burns that continue to challenge medical teams across Europe. The blaze, which erupted shortly after midnight in the packed basement venue, turned a night of celebration into one of the deadliest incidents in modern Swiss history, disproportionately affecting teenagers and young adults.

Among the survivors whose stories have emerged is a 16-year-old French teenager, often referred to in reports as Axel Clavier (or simply Axel in survivor testimonies), who narrowly escaped the inferno but lost nine friends in the tragedy. His account details the chaos inside the bar: thick black smoke, screaming crowds piling up near exits, and flames spreading rapidly after sparklers on champagne bottles ignited the ceiling’s flammable soundproofing foam.

Axel recounted using a table as both shield and tool for survival. “I pulled a table and flipped it to protect myself from the fire,” he described in interviews, explaining how he knocked it over to create a barrier against the encroaching flames and heat. Trapped in the “total chaos,” he and others banged desperately on windows that were made of tough plexiglass, resistant to breaking. With sheer determination, he kicked and forced one open, smashing it from its frame to create an escape route. This allowed him — and reportedly some others behind him — to flee into the snowy night, even as the venue filled with suffocating smoke and fire.

Here are powerful images capturing the aftermath of the fire at Le Constellation, including the charred building and scenes of emergency response that followed the escape attempts:

news.sky.com

Witness saw people ‘walking on top of others’ as they tried to …

This photograph shows the exterior of the bar post-fire, with visible damage highlighting the intensity of the blaze and the narrow escape routes survivors like Axel used.

pbs.org

Mourners march in silence to honor victims of deadly Swiss Alpine …

Mourners and investigators gather near the site, where candles and flowers now mark the place of unimaginable loss.

The 16-year-old was the only one from his group of friends to make it out alive. Nine companions perished in the crush and flames, their bodies later identified among the victims through painstaking forensic work involving DNA, dental records, and family contributions. Reports indicate many of the deceased were teenagers, including several French nationals, amplifying the grief in communities back home.

In a poignant and courageous step toward healing, the young survivor returned to the site of Le Constellation days after the disaster — reportedly around the time of a major homage ceremony on January 9. Accompanied by others, he stood before the sealed-off, charred remains of the bar where everything changed in minutes. This visit symbolized a mix of confronting trauma and beginning the long process of reclaiming life.

Here are additional visuals from survivor testimonies and the broader aftermath, including frames that evoke the desperate window-breaking escapes:

youtube.com

“I Don’t Know How I Got Out Alive” — Survivor Describes Escape From Deadly Swiss Bar Fire | APT

A still from survivor interview footage showing the intensity of the escape, with references to plexiglass windows and chaotic scenes inside.

abc.net.au

Australian teen loses friend, says two remain missing, after Crans …

Emergency scenes outside the bar, where first responders worked in freezing conditions to aid those who made it out.

Now, just weeks after the tragedy, the 16-year-old is attempting to move forward by resuming normalcy. He returned to school this Monday (January 13, 2026), far from the Alpine resort where the nightmare unfolded. This step marks a profound act of resilience amid profound grief — facing classmates, teachers, and daily routines while carrying the weight of losing nine close friends. His story highlights the psychological toll on survivors: many report ongoing trauma, nightmares, and survivor’s guilt, with counseling and support networks being mobilized across Switzerland and France.

The broader investigation continues, with prosecutors focusing on potential negligence, including the lack of fire inspections since 2019, obstructed or locked exits during the panic, and the use of highly flammable materials. One of the bar’s managers has been placed in pre-trial detention over risks of flight, while the French owners, Jacques and Jessica Moretti, face charges related to homicide by negligence.

Here are somber images of memorials and tributes that have sprung up in Crans-Montana and beyond, honoring the victims and supporting survivors:

nbcnews.com

Champagne sparklers likely started Swiss bar fire, officials say

This image depicts the site in the days after, with investigators examining the damage that trapped so many.

As Switzerland observes national mourning and communities grieve, stories like this young survivor’s underscore the human cost: a teenager who, through quick thinking and raw courage, escaped hell but must now rebuild a life forever altered. His return to the bar and to school represent small, brave steps toward recovery, a testament to resilience in the face of unimaginable loss. Support for survivors, families, and the affected youth continues, with calls for stricter safety measures to ensure no such tragedy recurs.