HEARTBREAKING LOSS
Charlotte Niddam’s tragic final post days before deadly Swiss bar inferno shows Brit-educated teen beaming & dancing
The blaze is one of the worst disasters in recent Swiss history and has triggered a nationwide outpouring of grief
A BEAMING British schoolgirl’s final post has emerged after she was killed in a deadly inferno at a Swiss ski resort.
Charlotte Niddam, just 15, was among 40 people killed when a packed tourist bar went up in flames during New Year’s Eve celebrations in Crans-Montana, Valais.
Charlotte Niddam’s tragic final video just days before deadly Swiss bar infernoCredit: TikTok/charlotteniddam
The clip shows the Brit-educated teen beaming as she dances in front of the cameraCredit: TikTok/charlotteniddam
The teen schoolgirl appears to be dressed up and ready to go out in a clip posted just five days before the deadly blazeCredit: TikTok/charlotteniddam
In her heartbreaking last TikTok, Charlotte sways to the music in front of the camera, smiling as she sings along to Amy Winehouse’s Tears Dry On Their Own.
The short video, shared just five days before the fatal blaze, shows the educated-teen Brit dressed up and ready to go out.
At one point, she playfully reaches towards the camera, grinning as she continues mouthing the lyrics.
Heartbroken strangers and friends flooded the comments beneath the post, calling her “beautiful” and leaving tributes after news of her death broke.
Charlotte had been staying at the resort while working as a babysitter, something she did “very often”, according to the resort’s website.
She was one of dozens of teenagers killed when a suspected sparkler ignited the ceiling of the Constellation bar shortly after 1.30am on New Year’s Day.
Some 119 people were injured, many suffering severe burns.
In a moving statement released on social media, Charlotte’s family said: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beautiful daughter and sister, Charlotte.
“Details regarding the funeral arrangements will follow shortly. It is most likely on Thursday in Paris.
“Thank you for all your support those last few days.”
Police have now formally identified all 40 victims of the fire.
The dead range in age from 14 to 39, with teenagers making up more than half of the death toll.
Some 26 of the 40 victims were teenagers, including a 14-year-old French national and a 14-year-old from Switzerland.
In total, 21 of those who died were Swiss, seven were French and six were Italian.
Others came from Romania, Turkey, Portugal and Belgium, as well as one Swiss-French dual national.
Grief-stricken mum Laetitia Brodard-Sitre, who spent days desperately searching for her missing son Arthur, 16, confirmed he was among the victims.
She said: “Our Arthur has now left to party in paradise.”
Images of missing teenagers – many later confirmed dead – were shared widely on social media as families begged for information.
Several people are dead and more are injured after a fire broke out at a New Year’s Eve celebrationCredit: x.com
Prosecutors believe the fire began when “fountain candle” sparklers were held too close to the ceilingCredit: Doug Seeburg
Promising Swiss boxer Benjamin Johnson, 18, and bouncer Stefan Ivanović, 31, who helped save several revellers, were also named among the dead.
Italian teen Chiara Costanzo, 16, became another identified victim after her father Andrea told Il Corriere della Sera: “my beloved Chiara is no more”.
Her identification followed that of Italian 17-year-old golf prodigy Emanuele Galeppini.
The keen golfer’s Instagram features a photo of him posing with Rory McIlroy, captioned: “Pic of the year”.
The blaze is one of the worst disasters in recent Swiss history and has triggered a nationwide outpouring of grief.
Switzerland will hold a national day of mourning this week.
More than 2,000 mourners have already walked in silence through the resort in a poignant procession.
Flags flew at half-mast as mourners wiped away tears during an emotional church service held in German, French and Italian.
The crowd then slowly walked towards a makeshift shrine near the destroyed bar to pay their respects.
Prosecutors believe the fire began when “fountain candle” sparklers were held too close to the ceiling.
The region’s chief prosecutor said the sparklers likely ignited acoustic insulation foam fitted during renovation work in 2015.
The bar’s French owners, Jacques and Jessica Moretti, are now under formal criminal investigation for manslaughter by negligence, bodily harm by negligence and arson by negligence.
Champagne sparklers reportedly held aloft by waitresses caused a flashover fire that engulfed the venue within seconds.
The police probe will also examine the use of fire extinguishers, emergency exits and safety equipment.
One former waitress claimed the emergency exit was always locked.
The Morettis, who bought the bar a decade ago, briefly broke cover over the weekend after announcing: “We can neither sleep nor eat, we are all very unwell.”
Jacques and Jessica Moretti are being investigated on suspicion of manslaughter by negligence, bodily harm by negligence, and arson by negligence.
Charlotte had been staying at the resort while working as a babysitterCredit: TikTok
In a statement released on social media, Charlotte’s family said: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beautiful daughter and sister”Credit: Tik tok
Haunting Final Moments: Charlotte Niddam’s Cheerful Video Days Before Tragedy, Amid Emerging Safety Allegations in Crans-Montana Fire
In the wake of the devastating New Year’s Eve fire at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, that claimed 40 lives—including that of 15-year-old Charlotte Niddam—the tragedy continues to unfold with heartbreaking personal stories and mounting questions about venue safety. Charlotte, a vibrant teenager with British, French, and Israeli citizenship who had attended schools in Hertfordshire and London, was confirmed among the victims after an agonizing identification process. Just months earlier, in September 2025, she shared a cheerful social media video dancing and smiling, a joyful glimpse into a life full of promise that was tragically cut short on January 1, 2026.
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Charlotte’s family announced her passing “with great sadness” on social media, as Swiss authorities completed the identification of all 40 victims by January 4. Many required DNA and dental records due to severe burns from the rapid blaze, which erupted in the basement nightclub around 1:30 a.m. The fire, likely ignited by sparklers on champagne bottles held too close to flammable acoustic foam on the ceiling, spread explosively in seconds, filling the space with toxic smoke. Over half the victims were minors, some as young as 14, reflecting the venue’s popularity with teenagers in the upscale ski resort.
As investigations deepen, allegations of safety lapses have surfaced. Witnesses and former patrons claim emergency exits were habitually inaccessible—one bartender from the area described a secondary door as “always locked,” possibly to prevent unpaid exits, with furniture blocking it. Authorities are scrutinizing escape routes, with prosecutors examining the French managers for potential negligent homicide. While no official reports confirm doors being deliberately locked during the incident, concerns echo historical nightclub disasters where blocked exits proved fatal.
Further unverified claims have circulated online about fire extinguishers being “kept in a locked room,” potentially hindering early response efforts. Officials have stated that fire safety measures, including extinguishers, are under review, but preliminary findings focus on the sparkler ignition and non-compliant ceiling materials rather than deliberate sabotage or locking of equipment.
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Surveillance and social media footage have provided critical insights into the chaos, capturing the initial ignition and desperate escapes. However, no verified CCTV has emerged showing patrons or staff shouting phrases like “lock all the doors,” and such claims appear unsubstantiated amid the ongoing probe. The Zurich Forensic Institute and international experts are analyzing evidence, with a criminal investigation prioritizing negligence over intentional acts.
The community remains in profound mourning. Makeshift memorials outside the sealed bar overflow with flowers, candles, and messages of solidarity, as hundreds joined silent marches and services. Switzerland observed national mourning, with church bells tolling and flags at half-mast. Survivors recount harrowing scenes: crushing crowds at the narrow main staircase, blinding smoke, and heroic acts amid panic. Many of the 119 injured were transferred to specialized burns units across Europe, overwhelming local hospitals.
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Charlotte’s story has resonated internationally. A former pupil at Immanuel College and the Jewish Free School, she had advertised babysitting services in Crans-Montana and was remembered as full of life. Her final cheerful video, shared widely in tributes, contrasts starkly with the tragedy, amplifying the grief for a generation lost too soon.
This disaster underscores the perils of indoor pyrotechnics and flammable interiors in crowded venues. As families hold private funerals and demand accountability, Crans-Montana—a luxurious haven in the Alps—grapples with irreversible change. The investigation’s findings will be crucial in honoring the victims and preventing future heartbreak.
