The first victim of the devastating New Year's Eve fire that ripped through a popular bar in the Swiss Alps has been identified as a 17-year-old Italian golfing talent. Emmanuele Galeppini was confirmed dead in a poignant tribute posted by the Italian Golf Federation.
A Young Athlete's Life Cut Short
In an Instagram post, the Italian Golf Federation remembered Galeppini as a 'young athlete who embodied passion and authentic values'. The federation extended its deepest sympathies, stating, 'In this time of great sorrow, our thoughts go out to his family and all those who loved him'.
The teenager, originally from Genova but based in Dubai, was a member of the Italian national golf team. His sporting achievements included winning the championship title at the Omega Dubai Creek Amateur Open last year, and he held a best world amateur ranking of 2440th.
The Search at the Constellation Bar
Galeppini had been celebrating at the 'Constellation' bar in the upscale resort of Crans-Montana, Switzerland. The deadly inferno erupted around an hour after midnight on 31 December. Reports indicate his family grew concerned when they lost contact with him after his father had spoken to him on the phone at midnight to wish him a happy birthday.
Upon hearing news of the fire, his father went to the bar searching for him, as the family launched a desperate appeal to locate him. Galeppini was among 13 missing Italians listed by the country's Foreign Ministry in the aftermath of the blaze.
A Tragedy of Immense Scale
The fire at the Constellation bar has resulted in one of the worst Alpine resort tragedies in recent memory. The incident has left over 40 people dead and a further 115 injured. The identification of Galeppini as the first named victim brings a heartbreaking personal story to the forefront of a large-scale disaster that has shocked the international community and the world of sports.
