Charlotte Niddam, a 15-year-old former British schoolgirl, has been officially identified as one of the victims of the devastating fire at the Crans-Montana ski resort in Switzerland on New Year’s Day 2026. The tragic blaze erupted at the Constellation bar in the early hours of January 1, claiming 40 lives and injuring at least 119 people during the new year celebrations.
Initially reported missing, Charlotte’s family confirmed her passing in a heartfelt social media announcement on January 4, expressing profound grief over the loss of their “beautiful daughter and sister.” Her funeral is scheduled to take place in Paris later this week.
Charlotte was a student at Immanuel College in Hertfordshire. The school released a statement sharing their shock and said they had been “praying for a miracle” following the incident. Locally, she had been working as a babysitter, according to information provided by the Crans-Montana resort.
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Authorities in the Valais region confirmed that all 40 victims of the fire have now been identified. The group included nationals from Switzerland, France, Italy, Portugal, Belgium, the United Kingdom, and Israel.
Investigations into the cause and circumstances of the fire are ongoing. Officials are examining the venue’s safety measures, including the functionality of fire extinguishers and the accessibility of escape routes. An important focus of the inquiry is whether the sound-dampening material installed on the venue’s ceiling complied with safety regulations, as this may have contributed to the rapid spread of the fire.
The final group of victims spanned a diverse range of ages and nationalities, highlighting the international nature of the tragedy and the scale of loss suffered by families across Europe and beyond. Authorities remain committed to a thorough investigation to prevent such a disaster from happening again.