A month after the devastating fire in Crans-Montana, Tahirys Dos Santos, a 19-year-old player for FC Metz, spoke to Paris Match about the ordeal he endured that night. Severely burned over approximately 30% of his body, he was hospitalized in Germany before being repatriated to France to continue his recovery.
A devastating ordeal
In her account, Tahirys Dos Santos describes the difficult weeks following the tragedy and the stages of her recovery after a recent transplant. "Today, after several trying weeks and a transplant, I feel better.", he confided, stressing that there is still a long way to go but that he looks to the future with confidence, acknowledging the support of his loved ones and his professional circle.
Tahirys Dos Santos recounted how he found himself trapped in the flames of the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, along with a group of friends and his girlfriend, Coline. He explained that the fire spread very quickly and that he had to act instinctively to ensure Coline's safety before guiding them to the stairs in an atmosphere of total chaos.
Fear and courage in the face of danger
The young footballer described the anguish he felt not knowing if some of his friends had survived. "I didn't know if they were still alive or not. I was very worried about them, I called out their names and there was no response."he said. Eventually, a comrade who was there that night found him and led him to a group of survivors, where a student named Amandine played a crucial role in his survival.
Tahirys Dos Santos expressed his deep gratitude to the medical teams who cared for him. Speaking to a nurse, he confided: "If I don't become a professional footballer, I want to become like you and save lives.".
Context of the tragedy and scale of the disaster
The fire, which broke out in the night of December 31, 2025, to January 1, 2026, at the Le Constellation bar, resulted in the deaths of 41 people and injured more than 115. Several French nationals were among those injured and hospitalized in specialized facilities in France or Belgium.
Despite the seriousness of his injuries and the uncertainty surrounding the future of his career, Tahirys Dos Santos receives constant support from FC Metz, his teammates, the fans, and his agent, Christophe Hutteau…
