The final victim of the catastrophic New Year’s Eve fire at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana has been recovered after police dogs made a grim discovery in a corner of the venue’s restroom, bringing the confirmed death toll to 40 and providing long-awaited closure to families while raising fresh questions about the building’s layout and emergency design.

The blaze, which erupted shortly after 1:30 a.m. on January 1 during packed celebrations, killed dozens and injured over 115 in what survivors have described as a “human crematorium.” Initial recovery efforts focused on main areas, stairwells, and exits, but several victims remained unaccounted for days later. On January 9, specialist cadaver dogs from the Valais Cantonal Police and Swiss Army units alerted handlers to a concealed corner of the bar’s downstairs restroom — an area previously thought to be clear.

The body was that of 42-year-old Swiss national Lukas Berger, a local resident and regular at the venue. DNA testing conducted overnight confirmed his identity. Investigators now believe Berger became trapped when he attempted to help others escape through the restroom’s small window, only for smoke and collapsing debris to block the path behind him. The window itself was found jammed shut from the outside by fallen ceiling material and furniture shifted during the panic.

“This discovery changes everything,” said lead investigator Dr. Lukas Berger (no relation to the victim). “It shows how quickly escape routes became inaccessible and how some victims may have been attempting to assist others when the situation became impossible. The restroom corner was not visible from the main floor during earlier sweeps due to fallen beams and heavy smoke residue.”

The revelation has intensified scrutiny of the bar’s safety compliance. Earlier reports already highlighted overcrowding, flammable ceiling foam, and exits that did not open outward as required by Swiss fire regulations. The restroom window — intended as an emergency exit — was too small for adults to pass through quickly and was obstructed by external bars and debris. Fire safety experts now question whether the venue’s layout contributed to the high death toll, particularly in confined spaces like restrooms where people instinctively seek shelter.

The fire, sparked by sparklers igniting acoustic foam, spread with terrifying speed due to the low ceiling and open-plan design. Of the 115 injured, many suffered severe burns and smoke inhalation; several remain in critical condition in hospitals across Switzerland, France, and Italy.

National mourning continues, with President Guy Parmelin calling the tragedy “one of our darkest days.” Flags remain at half-mast, and candlelight vigils are held nightly in Crans-Montana and across the country.

For Lukas Berger’s family, the recovery brings painful closure. His wife and two teenage children were among those waiting anxiously outside the cordon for days. “He always helped everyone,” a family friend said. “Even in his last moments, he was trying to save others. That’s who Lukas was.”

As forensic teams complete their work and the criminal investigation expands to examine potential negligence by venue operators, the discovery of the final victim serves as a grim punctuation to one of Switzerland’s worst peacetime disasters. The restroom corner — once a place of momentary refuge — became a tomb. The haunting image of police dogs alerting to the hidden body will linger long after the ashes are cleared.

Authorities continue to appeal for witnesses and footage from the night. The question now is not only how the fire started, but why so many escape routes failed — and why some victims, like Lukas Berger, were found in places search teams had already declared safe.