“MOM… IT HURTS SO BAD.” 💔
Inside Swiss hospitals, the aftermath of the fire is unfolding in whispers and tears as injured teenagers endure unbearable pain, wrapped in bandages, clinging to life and calling out for their mothers. Doctors fight minute by minute, families wait in silence, and every hallway carries the weight of fear, hope, and heartbreak.
In this fragile moment, everyone is praying for a miracle…👇👇
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The devastating New Year’s Day fire at Le Constellation bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana has left a trail of unimaginable suffering, with survivors—many of them teenagers—enduring excruciating pain from severe burns as they fight for survival in hospitals across Switzerland and Europe. The blaze, which erupted shortly after midnight on January 1, 2026, during a crowded New Year’s celebration, killed 40 people (more than half teenagers, with victims as young as 14) and injured 119 others, including 83 with severe burns requiring specialized care. Amid the chaos of flames, smoke, and panic, heart-wrenching cries of agony from the injured echoed through emergency corridors, with desperate pleas like “Mom, it hurts so much” piercing the air as young victims grappled with the torture of their mangled, blistered skin and fading breaths.
The fire began when sparkling candles or sparklers atop champagne bottles ignited flammable foam cladding on the ceiling, rapidly engulfing the packed venue in flames and toxic smoke. Eyewitnesses described scenes of horror: young people screaming in pain, their faces and bodies severely burned as they tried to escape the inferno. One local resident told media outlets that the screams of the injured were the most haunting part—”the screaming of pain” from those “totally burned in the face.” Survivors recounted suffocating heat, choking smoke, and the desperate scramble for exits, with many suffering inhalation injuries alongside extensive burns covering large percentages of their bodies.
In hospitals like the regional facility in Sion (about 10-15 km from Crans-Montana) and specialized burn units in Switzerland, France, Germany, Belgium, and Italy, the young victims—average age around 19-20—have faced grueling treatments. Severe burns often exceed 60% of the body in some cases, leading to intense pain despite heavy sedation and pain management. Burn victims describe the sensation as unrelenting fire on their skin, compounded by the agony of debridement (removal of dead tissue), skin grafts, and the risk of infection. Hospital staff have reported hearing cries for mothers as teenagers, in shock and delirium, call out in their most vulnerable moments. These pleas—”Mom, it hurts so much”—reflect the raw terror and childlike desperation amid unimaginable physical torment, shattering the composure of medical teams, families, and visitors alike.
Many of the injured were transferred abroad for advanced care in dedicated burn centers, as Swiss facilities were overwhelmed. Doctors note that while youth aids recovery potential through better healing capacity, the road ahead involves months of surgeries, rehabilitation, and psychological support for trauma. Scarring—both physical and emotional—will be lifelong for survivors like a 20-year-old quoted from his hospital bed: “I’m going to be scarred for life.” The pain is not just bodily; the psychological toll includes survivor’s guilt, nightmares of the fire, and the grief of losing friends in the same blaze.
The tragedy has united communities in grief, with national mourning, vigils, and a mass held in Crans-Montana. Families endured agonizing waits for identification due to the severity of burns, providing DNA samples while clinging to hope that loved ones might be among the unidentified injured rather than the deceased. Stories emerged of frantic parents like Laetitia Brodard-Sitre, who searched desperately for her 16-year-old son Arthur (later confirmed among the dead), and others bringing flowers to hospital bedsides for critically burned friends.
Investigations continue into potential negligence by the bar’s managers, who face charges related to involuntary homicide, bodily harm, and causing the fire. Questions linger about fire safety compliance, overcrowding, and the use of flammable materials in a venue popular with young revelers. The incident ranks among Switzerland’s worst peacetime disasters, prompting renewed focus on venue regulations and burn injury protocols.
At the fragile edge of life and death, these “fallen angels”—as some have poignantly described the young victims—represent innocence caught in catastrophe. Their cries underscore the human cost: the miracle hoped for is survival, healing, and eventual peace beyond the pain. Yet for many, the battle remains daily, with every breath a testament to resilience amid profound suffering.
The aftermath at the site of Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, now a somber reminder of the tragedy.
The snowy alpine setting of Crans-Montana ski resort, where the New Year’s celebration turned deadly.
Regional Hospital in Sion, treating many of the severely burned survivors.
Memorial tributes and flowers left near the bar site in the days following the fire.
As Switzerland mourns and supports the recovery of these brave young souls, the echoes of their cries serve as a stark call for vigilance in safety and compassion in the face of tragedy.
