Crans-Montana, Switzerland – February 5, 2026 — A young woman has woken from a three-week coma after being rescued from a fire by her boyfriend, professional footballer Tahirys dos Santos.
Coline L. was saved by dos Santos during a blaze that broke out at the “Le Constellation” bar in Crans-Montana on New Year’s Eve.
- Coline L. was in a coma for three weeks after a fire in Switzerland.
- Her boyfriend, FC Metz footballer Tahirys dos Santos, alerted her to the danger and helped her escape.
- Dos Santos sustained burns in the fire and is currently recovering.
- Both are now recovering and have been reunited.
Dos Santos, a 19-year-old left-back for FC Metz, immediately reacted when the fire erupted, according to accounts published by Paris-Match. “I didn’t really think, I went straight to see Coline, I called her, she was in the toilet and we ran up the stairs. She didn’t ask any questions, she came straight away,” he recalled.
Coline L. described the urgency in her boyfriend’s voice, telling Paris-Match, “He came into the girls’ bathroom and yelled: Coline, come! There is fire! I had never heard him speak like that. There was something terrible in his voice.”
She awoke from the coma after three weeks, stating, “I was sure I was in a nightmare and that I was going to wake up,” according to the magazine. The couple were able to reunite on January 28.
Dos Santos suffered burns to his arms, hands, face, and back, according to Le Parisien, but is on the mend. He has credited a student named Amandine with providing crucial support following the incident, saying, “She’s a student, you could say she saved my life.”
Why It Matters
The story highlights the quick thinking and bravery of a young athlete, and the profound impact of such events on those involved. Beyond the immediate rescue, the incident underscores the potential for tragedy in public spaces and the importance of swift emergency response. Dos Santos’s commitment to returning to professional football, coupled with his expressed desire to dedicate himself to saving lives if his athletic career is cut short, demonstrates a remarkable resilience and sense of purpose.
“I asked her to take a photo of me for my parents, so they wouldn’t worry, to show that I was fine even after what happened and that if I didn’t become a professional footballer, I would save lives like her,” Tahirys dos Santos said.
Dos Santos explained that he initially avoided looking at his injuries, stating, “At the very beginning, I didn’t want to look at myself so as not to worry,” even knowing his face and hair had been affected.
Time.news based this report in part on reporting by Le Parisien and Paris-Match and added independent analysis and context.
