Fire sparklers

HOW SKI BLAZE BEGAN, LEAVING 40 PEOPLE DEAD

- by JERRY LAWTON, Chief Reporter

TRAPPED: Fire spreads across the ceiling behind revellers

THIS is the shocking moment fire took hold in the ski bar inferno that claimed 40 lives and left more than 100 injured.

Swiss authorities say sparklers attached to champagne bottles were held too close to the ceiling.

It comes as Ferdinand Du Beaudiez, 19, was hailed a hero for saving his girlfriend then rushing back into what “felt like a war scene” to help.

French student Ferdinand was with his girlfriend, pals and brother - who is in a coma - when the fire started at Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, at 1.30am on New Year's Day.