Golf prodigy Emanuele Galeppini has been named as the first victim after a deadly Swiss ski resort fire.
The 17-year-old, originally from Genoa, was widely regarded as a promising young talent, competing regularly across the Middle East and Europe.
One of his most recent victories came at the 2025 Omega Dubai Creek Amateur Open last April.
He had also recently featured in the King Hamad Trophy at the Royal Golf Club in Bahrain and the UAE Cup in Al Ain.
The Italian Golf Federation confirmed the news on social media.
They said: “The Italian Golf Federation mourns the passing of Emanuele Galeppini, a young athlete who carried with him passion and authentic values.
"In this moment of great sorrow, our thoughts go to his family and to all those who loved him. Emanuele, you will remain forever in our hearts."
Swiss officials have yet to officially name the other victims and say identification of the dead will take some time.
One of his most recent victories came at the 2025 Omega Dubai Creek Amateur Open last April
|Between 40 and 47 people - largely young people ringing in the New Year - died following the blaze.
The fire ripped through Le Constellation bar in the early hours of Thursday morning, leaving 115 people injured, many with critical wounds.
Eighteen-year-old Rayan Guiren told reporters: "Many parents have been searching for their children."
Foreign embassies are working urgently to determine whether their nationals were among those caught up in what has become one of Switzerland's worst modern disasters.
Between 40 and 47 people - largely young people ringing in the New Year - died following the blaze
|GETTY
And new footage appears to show crowds dispersing as flames began licking at soundproof material up above.
The flames then spread at speed through the space, with escape routes proving treacherous due to narrow passages and stairs.
The Italian Foreign Ministry confirmed 16 of its nationals remained unaccounted for, with between 12 and 15 others receiving hospital treatment.
France's foreign ministry reported eight missing citizens and could not exclude the possibility that French nationals were among the dead.
Footage from inside the bar showed the moment fire began to spread across the ceiling in a 'flashover' | XPatients with severe burns were transferred to specialist units across Switzerland, including facilities in Lausanne, Zurich and Geneva.
Doctors described treating victims aged between 15 and 25 with third-degree injuries.
Switzerland has declared five days of national mourning, and on Thursday evening, hundreds gathered in silence near the cordoned-off scene, leaving flowers and lighting candles at a makeshift memorial as some wept and embraced.
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