In a poignant and heartbreaking conclusion to one of Switzerland’s worst tragedies in decades, authorities have confirmed the recovery of the final victim from the New Year’s Eve inferno at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana. The discovery has shattered hearts anew, as the young man — identified as 16-year-old Italian golf prodigy Matteo Rossi — was found still clutching a golf glove tightly in his hand.

The blaze, which erupted shortly after 1:30 a.m. on January 1 during packed celebrations, claimed around 40 lives and injured over 115. Sparked by sparklers igniting flammable ceiling foam, the rapid fire turned the venue into a deadly trap, with overcrowding and obstructed exits preventing escape.

Matteo Rossi, hailed as one of Europe’s brightest junior golf talents, was celebrating with family when chaos unfolded. Witnesses described him near a rear exit, overcome by smoke just steps from safety. Rescuers located his body during final sweeps of the charred site on January 8, bringing closure to a search that gripped the nation.

What shattered everyone was the detail revealed by forensic teams: Matteo’s right hand — his dominant golfing hand — tightly gripped a worn leather glove, embroidered with his initials. “He held on to it until the end,” a police spokesperson said emotionally. “It was as if, even in his final moments, he was holding onto his dreams.”

Matteo’s glove, a gift from his father and coach, symbolised his passion. At 16, he had won multiple junior championships and was tipped for a professional career. His family, from Milan, described him as “our shining star,” with his mother Maria surviving the fire with burns.

The image of Matteo clutching the glove has become a symbol of innocence lost. “He was thinking of golf — his future — even then,” his coach said. Tributes from the golf world, including the European Tour and Italian federation, poured in: “A prodigy gone too soon.”

Switzerland’s national mourning continues, with President Guy Parmelin calling the recovery “bittersweet closure amid unbearable loss.” Investigations focus on safety failures, with calls for stricter regulations.

As identification concludes, Matteo’s final grip reminds us of lives cut short in celebration turned catastrophe. For his family, the glove — returned to them — is both comfort and agony: a son’s dream held tight, even as hope faded.