Italian golfer Emanuele Galeppini was among the victims of a deadly fire that broke out in a bar in a Swiss ski resort early on New Year's Day.
A 17-year-old has become the first victim of a tragic fire that has killed at least 40 people in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana. Authorities confirmed that 115 people were injured in the fire, and rescue teams and forensic experts combed the scene to understand what caused the fire.
Police officers and rescue workers stand next to a firefighter's vehicle at the scene of an explosion that ripped through the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, January 1, 2026. Dozens of people are believed to have been killed and about 100 injured after a fire engulfed a crowded bar in the luxury Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana, police said in the early hours of January 1, 2026.
The Italian Golf Federation confirmed Galeppini's death. Instagram postwriting that the sports organization “mourns the death of Emanuele Galeppini, a young athlete who carried with him passion and genuine values.”
“At this time of great grief, our thoughts are with his family and all who loved him,” the translated message added. “Emanuele, you will forever remain in our hearts.”
Galeppini, who hails from Genoa and then moved to the Middle East to further his career, won the Omega Dubai Creek Amateur in April. He was ranked 2440th in the world amateur golf rankings.
Nick Faldo wrote on X that Galeppini won the 2025 Faldo Junior Tour under-16 tournament earlier this year in Al Ain and was “an extremely gifted young man with a bright future. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and everyone affected by the tragic events in Crans-Montana. Rest in peace Emanuele.”
Fellow Englishman Tommy Fleetwood echoed those sentiments on Instagram.
“Our thoughts are with the Galeppini family and all the families affected by the Crans-Montana tragedy in Switzerland. Such a huge loss. Rest in peace Emanuele,” Fleetwood wrote.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Italian golfer Emanuele Galeppini was among the victims of the deadly fire
