A father has been hailed a hero after helping save 10 people during a deadly fire at a ski resort bar in Crans-Montana, Switzerland.
The blaze broke out on New Year’s Eve inside Le Constellation, killing 40 people and injuring more than 100. Investigators later said the fire started when sparklers placed in champagne bottles were held too close to the ceiling, which then caught alight. Images shared online showed partygoers lifting bottles with sparklers as celebrations continued.
The man, Paolo Campolo, 55, said he got involved after his 17-year-old daughter, Paolina, arrived late to the bar. She had stopped at his home first to celebrate, a delay he believes saved her life. Speaking to Il Messaggero, Paolo said she called him for help when she reached the venue, and he ran there carrying his own fire extinguisher.
Paolina’s boyfriend, who had been waiting near the entrance, managed to escape. However, Paolo said he suffered severe burns and remains in hospital in Basel in very serious condition.
Paolo described forcing his way through a blocked door to reach people trapped inside. He said he saw bodies on the floor through the glass and pulled out young victims, many of them Italian. Some were conscious and calling for help in different languages, while others were not.
Paolo said one thought guided him throughout the rescue: the people inside “could be my children.”