The fire at the Crans-Montana resort in Switzerland killed 40 people on New Year’s Day, as ITV News’ Amy Lewis reports
A former pupil at a British school has been confirmed to have died after a fire at a Swiss ski resort killed 40 people and injured 119 others.
Charlotte Niddam, 15, was among the last 16 victims to have been identified by police after the New Year blaze at the Crans-Montana resort.
She was initially reported as missing after a fire broke out inside the Constellation bar in the early hours of Thursday, while revellers were celebrating the start of 2026.
In a social media post on Sunday, Charlotte’s family said: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beautiful daughter and sister Charlotte.
“Details regarding the funeral arrangements will follow shortly.”
The post said Charlotte’s funeral is expected to take place in Paris later this week.
Charlotte attended Immanuel College in Hertfordshire, according to multiple reports, and after the fire, the school said in a statement it was “praying for a miracle”.
According to the Crans-Montana resort website, Charlotte had been working as a babysitter in the area.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper confirmed the news in a post on X.
She said: “Terrible news that Charlotte Niddam has been identified as one of those killed in the Crans-Montana fire.
“My thoughts are with all her family and friends after this devastating loss.”
All 40 people killed in the fire have now been identified, the Valais region police force said on Sunday.
The last 16 victims 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, and a 15-year-old girl with French, British, and Israeli nationalities, police said.
Hundreds of people gathered in Crans-Montana on Sunday to honour those killed in the fire.
There was a chapel ceremony followed by a march, in near total silence, to the bar where the fire took place.
At one point, the crowd broke into sustained applause as flower bouquets were laid at a makeshift memorial.
“We are going through a moment of crushing darkness, but we are going through it together,” one speaker said.
Swiss authorities said they had opened a criminal investigation into the managers of the bar.
The two managers are suspected of negligent homicide, negligent bodily harm and causing fire by negligence, police said in a statement.
Authorities previously stated that they would investigate whether the material on the ceiling of the venue, designed to muffle sound, conformed to safety regulations.
Officials said they would also look at other safety measures on the premises, including fire extinguishers and escape routes.
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