Swiss ski resort fire claims life of golf prodigy Emanuele Galeppini
Golf prodigy Emanuele Galeppini has been named as the first victim after a deadly Swiss ski resort fire, reports BritPanorama.
The 17-year-old, originally from Genoa, was widely regarded as a promising young talent, competing regularly across the Middle East and Europe. One of his most recent victories came at the 2025 Omega Dubai Creek Amateur Open last April. He had also recently featured in the King Hamad Trophy at the Royal Golf Club in Bahrain and the UAE Cup in Al Ain.
The Italian Golf Federation confirmed the news on social media, stating: “The Italian Golf Federation mourns the passing of Emanuele Galeppini, a young athlete who carried with him passion and authentic values. In this moment of great sorrow, our thoughts go to his family and to all those who loved him. Emanuele, you will remain forever in our hearts.” Swiss officials have yet to officially name the other victims and say identification of the deceased will take some time.
Between 40 and 47 people, largely young individuals celebrating the New Year, died in the blaze that tore through Le Constellation bar in the early hours of Thursday morning. The fire left 115 people injured, many with critical wounds. Eyewitness Rayan Guiren, 18, told reporters: “Many parents have been searching for their children.” Foreign embassies are working urgently to determine whether their nationals were among those caught up in what has become one of Switzerland’s worst modern disasters.
New footage appears to show crowds dispersing as flames began to engulf soundproof materials overhead. The fire spread rapidly, with escape routes proving treacherous due to narrow passages and stairs. The Italian Foreign Ministry confirmed that 16 of its nationals remain unaccounted for, while between 12 and 15 others are in hospital. France’s foreign ministry reported eight missing citizens and could not exclude the possibility that French nationals were among the dead.
Patients with severe burns are being transferred to specialist units across Switzerland, including facilities in Lausanne, Zurich, and Geneva, as doctors described treating victims aged between 15 and 25 with third-degree injuries. Switzerland has declared five days of national mourning, and on Thursday evening, hundreds gathered in silence near the cordoned-off scene, leaving flowers and lighting candles at a makeshift memorial, highlighting the human cost of this tragedy.
As the nation grapples with this profound loss, the resilience of community emerges, reminding us that even amidst sorrow, connections run deep. One can only hope that in the aftermath, a sense of unity prevails among those affected.
