French youth midfielder Tahirys Dos Santos, 19, stepped onto the UNFP Awards stage in Paris on Thursday, marking his first public appearance since the deadly fire at Le Constellation nightclub in Crans‑Montana, Switzerland. The blaze on March 24 claimed at least 41 lives and left Dos Santos and his girlfriend Coline with burns covering roughly 30% of their bodies.

Le Constellation blaze killed 41 and injured 115, sparking safety debate

According to reports, the fire erupted when a waitress ignited a sparkler inside a champagne bottle, igniting the wooden ceiling of the club’s basement and trapping more than 100 young partygoers. swiss officials described the incident as one of the worst disasters in the nation’s history, and investigators have linked the sparkler to the rapid spread of flames.

Dos Santos’ heroic rescue of girlfriend Coline documented in survivor accounts

Eyewitness testimony and video footage show Dos Santos fleeing the lower level, then turning back into the inferno to pull Coline from a bathroom, as flames engulfed the stairwell.. Both survived but sustained severe burns; Dos Santos later said he was airlifted to a specialized burns unit in Germany where his lung condition improved.

UNFP Awards in Paris: Dos Santos and Coline present Female Player of the Year

At the ceremony, the couple presented France’s Female Player of the Year award to Melchie Dumoray, their hands and forearms visibly scarred. Their appearance was the first since the March 24 tragedy, and the duo received a standing ovation from attendees, underscoring the emotional resonance of their survival.

Open question: Will Swiss authorities ban sparklers in nightclubs?

While investigators have not officially confirmed the sparkler as the cause,survivor accounts strongly suggest it ignited the fire. A local bus driver has already called for a ban on sparklers in clubs, noting they are prohibited in many venues across Europe, but no definitive regulatory change has been announced.

FC Metz’s contract status and future prospects for Dos Santos

Dos Santos signed his first professional contract with FC Metz earlier this year and returned to training in April, despite his extensive injuries. His agent confirmed the player remains under contract, but the club has not disclosed a timeline for his full return to competitive play.