They Were Found Together. They Left Together.
Two teenage sisters are now confirmed among the victims of the deadly Swiss bar fire, as authorities also identify the much-loved DJ who died that night. After days of anguish, the victims’ remains are finally being returned home — arriving to families broken by a loss no words can soften.
Side by side in life. Side by side in tragedy.
A nation mourns as the final journeys home begin.
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They Died Side by Side — Teenage Sisters Among Victims of Swiss Bar Inferno as Beloved DJ Is Named and Victims’ Remains Are Finally Sent Home to Shattered Families
Crans-Montana, Switzerland – January 8, 2026 – In a tragedy that has gripped nations across Europe, the devastating fire at Le Constellation bar on New Year’s Eve claimed 40 lives, many of them young revelers ringing in 2026. Among the victims were inseparable teenage sisters Alicia Gunst, 15, and Diana Gunst, 14, from the Lausanne area with Italian-Jewish heritage, who perished together in the inferno. Also confirmed dead is French producer and DJ Matéo Lesguer, a talented self-taught musician performing that night.
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The Gunst sisters, described as bright and loving by their community, were celebrating with friends when the blaze erupted around 1:30 a.m. in the basement venue. As thick toxic smoke filled the room and flames spread rapidly, the sisters likely stayed close, facing the horror side by side. Their final moments, though unknown in detail, evoke profound sorrow – two young lives intertwined even in tragedy. The Jewish Community of Lausanne mourned them deeply, highlighting the family’s ties and the loss of the youngest confirmed victims.
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Matéo Lesguer, born in Haiti and raised in western France, was behind the decks when the fire broke out. A passionate multi-instrumentalist, he had traveled to Crans-Montana for this gig to help pay off a student loan, telling friends it would be one of his last performances before pursuing other dreams. Video footage reportedly captured him mixing just before chaos ensued. Close collaborators paid emotional tributes, with one friend noting his intention to “quit everything and do something he really loved.” His death silenced a rising talent in the music scene.
The fire, sparked by champagne bottle sparklers held too close to the acoustic foam ceiling, caused a flashover that turned the crowded basement into a death trap. Narrow exits, potential overcrowding, and toxic fumes claimed lives rapidly, with victims aged 14 to 39 – half under 18.
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As identifications concluded, repatriation brought bittersweet closure. On January 5, an Italian Air Force plane solemnly carried the remains of five Italian victims from Sion Airport, including young students and golfer Emanuele Galeppini. Swiss police escorted coffins in a dignified ceremony, attended by officials and grieving relatives. The sixth Italian victim, residing in Switzerland, was buried locally.
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Hypothetically, had the sisters and Lesguer been nearer an exit or the foam been properly treated, escape might have been possible. In the basement’s darkness, with screams fading and air vanishing, bonds like sibling love or passion for music offered fleeting comfort amid terror.
Crans-Montana, usually bustling with skiers, fell silent in grief. Makeshift memorials overflowed with flowers, candles, teddy bears, and messages: “Rest in peace among the stars,” “You are all our children.” Hundreds joined vigils and silent processions, hugging strangers under Alpine shadows.
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A criminal probe targets owners Jacques and Jessica Moretti for negligent homicide, amid revelations of no inspections since 2019. Indoor sparklers banned, safety reforms paused.
Hypothetically, routine checks might have flagged risks, allowing the sisters more time with family, Lesguer more sets. As remains return home – to Italy, France, beyond – shattered families begin funerals, forever changed.
In Crans-Montana’s snow, tributes endure: siblings united eternally, a DJ’s beat silenced, young dreams extinguished. Yet stories of love persisting through flames offer solace in collective mourning.
