Mélanie Van de Veldeová appeared in public for the first time on Tuesday, ten months after surviving the fire at the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana. The survivor, whose body and face bear the visible marks of the blaze, attended a court hearing regarding the disaster that claimed 40 lives and injured more than 100 others on New Year’s Eve, Novinky reported.
Recovery after 40 percent burns
Van de Veldeová suffered burns to 40 percent of her body during the incident. In the months following the fire, her daily life was defined by medical procedures, including skin transplants, complex dressing changes, and the use of compression garments. She spent two months separated from her two-year-old daughter while undergoing physical rehabilitation, relearning basic movements such as walking, dressing, and climbing stairs. She previously described her ongoing struggle to survive by stating, “I am Mélanie. I am alive.”
Testimony regarding basement exit modifications
The Tuesday hearing focused on the structural history of the Le Constellation bar. Jacques Moretti, the owner of the establishment, admitted in court to narrowing the staircase leading from the basement. When questioned about the modification, Moretti claimed that while he made the decision to alter the stairs, the dimensions remained within what he believed were legal requirements based on his own online research.
Investigators, however, have presented evidence that this specific alteration hindered the evacuation process during the fire. According to official reports, 34 of the 41 victims who died in the tragedy were discovered at the base of that staircase.
Survivors and families seek accountability
Not for myself, but for the victims and their families,” she told the publication Blick. “We must make our voice heard and be here all together. We are all in the same boat.”
The search for answers remains the primary focus for the families of those who did not survive. Astrid Panineová, whose daughter died in the fire, reiterated the collective resolve of the group attending the proceedings. “We are here for our children,” Panineová said. “We will not give up.”
