The youngest victim of the tragedy in Crans-Montana is the son of an official from Sochaux » Noa Thévenot was 14 years old!
Article by Daniel Scorpie – Published on Monday, 05 January 2026 22:33 / Updated on Monday, 05 January 2026 22:43
Noa Thévenot El Kaim Billah (14 years old) is among the 40 people who died in the Crans-Montana tragedy. FC Sochaux-Montbéliard confirmed the sad news in a statement published today. Noa was the son of Xavier Thévenot, a member of the Supervisory Board of the National (third division) club and one of the key figures in the financial rescue in 2023.
26 of the 40 people who lost their lives on New Year's Eve in the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana are young people under the age of 18. Two are only 14-year-old children, and the youngest is Noa Thévenot El Kaim Billah.
The French kid did not survive the fire that also injured 119 people, many of whom are hospitalized in a very serious and critical condition in hospitals in Switzerland and several neighboring countries.
“It is with deep pain and immense sadness that we learned of the passing of Noa Thévenot El Kaim Billah,” Sochaux said in a statement. “This tragedy has hit the whole club hard.
🕊️ It is with profound pain and immense sadness that FC Sochaux-Montbéliard has learned of the disappearance of Noa Thévenot El Kaim Billah, son of Xavier Thévenot, member of the surveillance council and premier of cordée during the rescue of the FCSM in 2023, survenue lors du… pic.twitter.com/7RyoUqTgTj
— FC Sochaux-Montbéliard (@FCSM_officiel) January 5, 2026
In this moment of indescribable suffering, we express our sincere support to his family, loved ones and all those affected by this tragedy”. The club announced that they will pay tribute to the youngster during their next French Cup game against Lens.
A golfer, a boxer and a footballer, among the victims!
According to local media, Noa moved to Switzerland to live with his father after his mother's death. He continued to follow his passion for football, playing first in the youth teams of Racing Besançon and later at Swiss club Lancy FC.
Both clubs have publicly expressed their condolences to the family, underlining their grief at a loss that has affected not just the sporting world, but the entire community.
Tahirys Dos Santos was a substitute for Metz in the December 20 French Cup match against Biesheim (3-0) / Photo: fcmetz.com
Among the dead or injured were others connected to the world of sports. The death of boxer Benjamin Johnson, who was only 18 years old, was confirmed on Sunday. He tried to be a hero and save a friend from the flames, but he died dramatically.
Tahirys Dos Santos (19), Metz's left-back, has been admitted to a hospital in Germany since Monday with serious burns after the tragedy in the “Le Constellation” bar in Crans-Montana.
The next day it was learned about the death of a young Italian golfer, aged 16, settled in Dubai. Among the injured are several juniors from the Swiss club FC Lutry.
