A 20-year-old woman is fighting for her life after suffering burns over more than 70% of her body in the Crans-Montana fire. As she lay in a hospital in Germany, her family made a desperate journey to reach her — traveling nearly eight hours in shock and fear, unsure if they would arrive in time.
Their car had broken down. With no time and almost no money left, they boarded a train, focused on one thing only: getting to her bedside.
But during the trip, ticket inspectors issued them a €384 fine for traveling without valid tickets. According to the family, they tried to explain the emergency — that their daughter was critically injured, that they had exhausted their funds after the car failure, that every minute mattered. The railway company, they say, refused to cancel or reduce the penalty.
Now, as their daughter undergoes intensive treatment for catastrophic burn injuries, the family faces not only emotional devastation but financial strain as well. Severe burns covering more than 70% of the body often require multiple surgeries, prolonged intensive care, and months — sometimes years — of rehabilitation.
The incident has sparked outrage online, with many questioning whether exceptions should be made in clear medical emergencies. Supporters argue that compassion should outweigh rigid enforcement in extraordinary circumstances, while others note that railway operators maintain strict fare policies.
For the family, the debate feels secondary.
They were not trying to avoid payment, they say. They were trying to reach their child.
As their daughter fights for survival, they now carry an additional burden — a fine issued on a journey defined not by rule-breaking, but by desperation and love.