Young FC Metz player injured in Swiss ski resort fire
FC Metz has confirmed that one of its young players sustained serious injuries in the devastating Swiss ski resort fire that claimed approximately 40 lives on New Year’s Eve, reports BritPanorama.
Tahirys Dos Santos, a 19-year-old youth academy product, suffered severe burns during the blaze at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana. He was subsequently transported by air ambulance to Germany, where he remains under medical care.
The French club released a statement on Thursday evening revealing the news, describing how the young footballer had been holidaying in the mountains with friends when tragedy struck. Dos Santos had been staying at a chalet and was due to return to training on Friday.
The versatile left-back, who can also play in midfield, hails from Mont-Saint-Martin. He has established himself as a dependable presence in the Metz reserve squad competing in National 3, France’s fifth tier, and wore the captain’s armband at the start of the current campaign. Dos Santos has made ten appearances for the reserves this season, starting nine matches and contributing one assist.
The inferno at Le Constellation erupted at approximately 01:30 local time as revellers celebrated the arrival of the new year. Eyewitnesses recounted that a birthday candle placed atop a champagne bottle might have ignited the fire. “One of the candles was held too close to the ceiling, which caught fire. In a matter of seconds, the entire ceiling was ablaze. Everything was made of wood,” they said, describing the challenging escape through narrow passageways and tight staircases.
Swiss President Guy Parmelin has declared it “one of the worst tragedies that our country has experienced.” The Metz leadership, playing staff, and coaching team have expressed profound shock at the circumstances. Officials are currently liaising with medical authorities to facilitate Dos Santos’s transfer to Mercy Hospital, situated close to his family home. The club has pledged to keep supporters informed of any significant developments regarding his condition.
In the meantime, Metz has urged the public and media to afford the young player and his relatives the space they need during this harrowing period, extending its full support to the family as their son continues his recovery.
While the tragedy resonates deeply, it brings forth an uncomfortable reminder of sport’s collision with real-world disasters, an intersection that leaves us grappling with the fragility of life amidst the pursuit of glory.
