A former pupil of a London school has been officially confirmed as one of the victims of a devastating fire at a Swiss ski resort that claimed 40 lives. Charlotte Niddam, aged 15, was among the final 16 victims to be formally identified by Swiss authorities.
Tragic Identification of a Former London Pupil
The Valais regional police confirmed on Sunday that all 40 individuals who perished in the blaze at the Constellation bar in Crans-Montana have now been identified. The fire erupted in the early hours of New Year's Day, Thursday 1 January 2026, as revellers celebrated the start of the new year.
Charlotte Niddam had initially been reported missing after flames engulfed the popular venue. Her family released a statement on social media, announcing her death with "great sadness". The family indicated that her funeral service is expected to be held in Paris in the coming days.
Charlotte's Life and Connections to the UK
Charlotte was a former student at the Jewish Free School (JFS) in Kenton, North West London, where she studied for two years before her family moved back to France. She had also been a pupil at Immanuel College in Hertfordshire. The school had previously said it was "praying for a miracle" following news of the fire.
According to the Crans-Montana resort website, Charlotte had been working locally as a babysitter. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper expressed her condolences on social media platform X, stating it was "terrible news" and that her thoughts were with Charlotte's family and friends.
Ongoing Investigation and Full Victim List
Authorities have launched a probe into the cause of the deadly fire. Investigators stated they would examine whether sound-dampening material on the venue's ceiling complied with safety regulations. Officials also confirmed they would scrutinise other safety measures within the premises, including fire extinguishers and escape routes.
The final 16 victims identified, which included Charlotte, were a diverse group of young people from across Europe. The police list included:
- Two Swiss girls aged 15
- A Swiss woman aged 22
- A Swiss and French woman aged 24
- Two Italian girls aged 16 and 15
- An Italian boy aged 16
- A 22-year-old Portuguese woman
- A 17-year-old Belgian girl
- Two French women aged 33 and 26
- Two French men aged 23 and 20
- Two French teenage boys aged 17 and 14
- A 15-year-old girl with French, British, and Israeli nationalities
The fire, one of the worst in Switzerland's recent history, also left 119 people injured. The community in Crans-Montana and the families across Europe are now mourning an immense loss as the focus turns to understanding how this tragedy occurred.
