Tragic golf prodigy, 17, killed in Swiss ski resort fire pictured with Rory McIlroy

Emanuele Galeppini was the first victim to be named after a fire at the Crans-Montana ski resort in Switzerland left as many as 40 people dead and more than 100 injured

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Emanuele Galeppini pictured with Rory McIlroy(Image: @emanuele.galeppini/Instagram)

A social media post of tragic golfer Emanuele Galeppini celebrating a ‘pic of the year’ with sporting hero Rory McIlroy from 2024 has emerged after the teenager lost his life during New Years celebrations in Switzerland this week.

Galeppini, a 17-year-old talent from Genoa, was the first casualty to be named after the Crans-Montana fire claimed the lives of more than 40 revellers. The Italian Golf Federation described the youngster as “A young athlete who embodied passion and authentic values.” The body added: “In this time of great sorrow, our thoughts go out to his family and all those who loved him.”

The young golfer’s father Edoardo had earlier told TgCom that the family had been waiting for updates after hearing from Emanuele. “I heard from him at midnight, but since then I haven’t had any contact with him,” he said.

“Unfortunately, he was at the Constellation celebrating New Year’s Eve with friends. When we heard about the explosion, we went there, but we haven’t found him yet.”

Galeppini, who was based in Dubai, shared photos of his scorecards throughout the year as well as some action shots from tournaments. In March, he won a Faldo Series Under-16 tournament against best friend Thomas Buchard.

While Galeppini was the first of the victims to be named, many others are still missing. An Under-18s football team from the Swiss Canton of Vaud had a table booked at Le Constellation bar, where the fire took place.

“One of them is receiving treatment in a hospital, but three or four have not yet been heard from,” Stephane Bise, president of FC Lutry, told Swiss outlet Blick.

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Candles lit by mourners after the Crans-Montana fire(Image: Harold Cunningham/Getty Images)

A further 115 were left injured after the fire, with Swiss investigators looking into the causes of the tragedy. Teenage footballer Tahirys dos Santos was among the injured, with his club – French outfit Metz – confirming he had been airlifted to hospital for further treatment.

“I can’t tell you that he’s doing well, because he’s suffering terribly. He has burns covering 30% of his body,” Dos Santos’ agent Christophe Hutteau told BFMTV.

Dos Santos, who made the bench for Metz’s Coupe de France game against Biesheim in December, is being treated in a specialized burns unit. “The positive point is that his respiratory capacity has greatly improved since yesterday morning, even though his lungs were affected.”

While the exact cause has yet to be determined, an emergency spokesperson said: “There were sparklers on all tables in Le Constellation, and people were celebrating the new year. Suddenly a fire broke out, and people tried to get out of the confined space, causing chaos.”

Mathias Renard, head of the regional government, told a press conference: “This evening should have been a moment of celebration and coming together, but it turned into a nightmare.”

Combating Misinformation: No Evidence of Audio Recording from Emanuele Galeppini in Crans-Montana Fire Tragedy

The devastating New Year’s Eve fire at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, continues to generate waves of misinformation online, exacerbating the pain for grieving families. A recent viral claim alleges that 17-year-old Italian golf prodigy Emanuele Galeppini sent a 7-second audio message to his mother capturing desperate screams and a “hissing of unknown chemicals” during the blaze—a supposed “shocking discovery” for forensic experts that contradicts the official cause. This story is entirely false, with no supporting evidence from credible sources, authorities, or media reports as of January 6, 2026.

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Emanuele Galeppini, a talented young golfer based in Dubai who attended the Tommy Fleetwood Academy and had dreams of college golf in the U.S., was tragically among the 40 victims. The Italian Golf Federation mourned him as a “young athlete who carried passion and authentic values,” with tributes pouring in from figures like Nick Faldo and Tommy Fleetwood. He was visiting Crans-Montana with family and went to the bar with friends, who survived but were hospitalized. No reports mention any audio or voice message from Emanuele during the incident—let alone one analyzed by forensics or revealing mysterious chemicals.

Official investigations by Valais canton authorities and the Zurich Forensic Institute firmly attribute the fire to an accidental cause: celebratory fountain sparklers on champagne bottles held too close to the low ceiling, igniting flammable acoustic foam (likely polyurethane panels). This led to a rapid flashover, spreading flames and toxic smoke explosively. Videos verified by outlets like BBC and The New York Times show the initial ignition and chaos, with screams captured in social media footage as panic set in. Burning foam can produce acrid, chemical-like odors and sounds from releasing gases, but no “hissing of unknown chemicals” has been cited as evidence of an alternative cause. Arson, terrorism, and deliberate acts have been ruled out.

The tragedy struck around 1:30 a.m. on January 1 in the basement nightclub, popular with young locals and tourists due to its affordable vibe in the upscale resort. Over half the victims were minors, ages 14 to 39, with 119 injured—many severely—treated across Europe. All victims were identified by January 4 using DNA, dental records, and personal items due to the fire’s intensity.

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A criminal probe examines potential negligence by the bar’s French managers, including ceiling material compliance, indoor pyrotechnic use, emergency exits, and occupancy. Prior inspections reportedly found no issues, but the disaster has prompted reviews of Swiss fire safety standards for nightlife venues.

The close-knit community in Crans-Montana has united in sorrow, with overflowing memorials of flowers, candles, and messages outside the sealed bar. Silent marches, church services, and a national day of mourning on January 9 honor the lost, including Emanuele and others with bright futures ahead. Switzerland’s president called it one of the nation’s worst tragedies.

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False narratives like this audio claim—often amplified on social media—highlight the dangers of misinformation during sensitive events. Euronews and others have noted misleading images and stories circulating post-tragedy. Authorities and experts urge relying on verified information to respect the victims and support ongoing efforts for accountability and prevention.

This incident echoes historical nightclub fires where pyrotechnics and flammable interiors proved deadly, reinforcing calls for stricter regulations. In the stunning yet grieving Alps, Crans-Montana remembers its young lives lost, like Emanuele Galeppini’s, to a preventable accident—not fabricated mysteries.