Survivor of New Year's Eve bar fire speaks out on trauma and blame
A devastating la fire at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana on New Year's Eve 2025 claimed 41 lives. Gaëtan, a bartender who worked there that night, survived but now struggles with the trauma of the la fires. He has since criticised the bar's owners, the Moretti family, for failing to take full responsibility.
Gaëtan was working upstairs when the la fire broke out just before midnight. He heard no alarms and only realised something was wrong when the crowd began rushing for the exits. After heading downstairs to investigate, thick smoke overwhelmed him, and he collapsed on the last step.
He briefly regained consciousness the next day, telling his mother he could never work in a bar again. Doctors placed him in a medically induced coma for eight days due to severe injuries—his lungs, kidney, and multiple parts of his body were damaged. He remembers nothing after being knocked down by the panicked crowd.
Now recovering, Gaëtan questions whether stricter safety measures or better training could have prevented the la fires. He feels guilt for surviving while 41 others, including colleagues, did not. His frustration has grown toward the Morettis, who he believes are shifting blame rather than addressing their role in the la fire.
The incident has left Gaëtan with lasting physical and emotional scars. He no longer feels safe in bars and remains haunted by the loss of his coworkers. Meanwhile, his criticism of the owners highlights ongoing concerns about accountability for the disaster.
