Laetitia Brodard, mother of 16-year-old Arthur Brodard, is enduring an agonizing wait for news of her son after he disappeared during the deadly New Year's Eve fire at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana on January 1, 2026. The last message she received from Arthur arrived at 12:03 am, just minutes into the new year, reading simply: "Mom, Happy New Year. I love you." She replied with love, and at 1:28 am, Arthur sent a short video to friends showing their table celebrating together. Moments later, emergency services received the first call about the blaze that would claim 40 lives and injure 119 others.
The fire, which erupted in the basement bar, spread rapidly due to flammable soundproofing foam on the ceiling, ignited likely by sparklers or decorative candles waved too close. Panic ensued as thick smoke filled the venue, with revelers scrambling for narrow exits. Witnesses described a scene of terror, with people breaking windows and screaming while trying to escape. Arthur’s friend, who was at the same table, managed to get out but suffered burns over 45% of his body and is now in intensive care in Zurich. Laetitia continues to cling to every possible lead, even chasing false reports of her son being seen in various hospitals.
Authorities have warned that identifying all victims and survivors could take days due to the severity of burns, which in many cases destroyed clothing and physical features. Laetitia and other parents have submitted DNA samples and clothing descriptions, but progress remains slow. She described the emotional toll of conflicting updates—being told in the morning that four unidentified people were still alive, only to hear later that the number had changed. One distressing moment involved being shown a photo of a toe and asked if it belonged to her son.
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Despite the pain, Laetitia refuses to give up hope. She has been visiting hospitals, speaking with other grieving families, and following every possible clue. "If our boys are dead, ok, but don't wait three or four days to give us the news," she told reporters near the makeshift memorial outside the burnt-out bar. "What if my Arthur is in a hospital, alone in an intensive care unit, because he hasn't been registered?" She insists that if he is alive, it is her place to be by his side; if he is gone, she wants to be with him in the morgue.
The tragedy has left Crans-Montana in deep shock, with the international nature of the crowd complicating identification efforts. Of the 119 survivors, 71 are Swiss, with others from France, Italy, Serbia, Bosnia, Belgium, Poland, Portugal, Luxembourg, and more. The fire has prompted renewed scrutiny of safety standards in entertainment venues, particularly those using flammable materials during crowded festive events.
As the search for answers continues, families like Laetitia’s remain caught between hope and heartbreak. The wait for definitive news grows heavier with each passing hour, while the community and authorities work to support the bereaved and treat the injured. The haunting simplicity of Arthur’s final message underscores the sudden shift from celebration to unimaginable loss that has defined this tragic start to 2026 in the Swiss Alps.
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