Andrej Lazarov, a talented professional soccer player, tragically lost his life while heroically trying to rescue individuals trapped during a nightclub fire in Kocani, Macedonia. This heart-wrenching incident occurred in the early morning hours of Sunday, March 16, 2025, at the Pulse Club.
His club, FC Shkupi, which competes in the Macedonian First Football League, confirmed the 25-year-old’s demise through an official statement on Facebook. The club revealed that Lazarov succumbed to smoke inhalation while endeavoring to save those who were still inside the burning establishment.
“His heroic act will forever remain in our memory, as a testament to his noble character and his big heart,”the statement noted (translated).
According to a report from the BBC, the nightclub was hosting a concert for a local hip-hop duo named DNK when disaster struck. Initial investigations by Interior Minister Pance Toskovski indicated that the venue’s roof ignited due to sparks from pyrotechnics utilized during the performance, leading to the tragic fire.
The catastrophe resulted in a devastating loss of life, with at least 59 fatalities and over 155 injuries reported.
Andrej Lazarov’s Football Career and Legacy
Before joining FC Shkupi in September of the previous year, Lazarov was known for his contributions to FK Rabotnichki and GFK Tikvesh within the Macedonian First Football League. Colleagues at FC Shkupi described him as a humble and dedicated athlete who quickly earned their respect and admiration.
Besides his club career, Lazarov had represented the youth national team and spent a season playing in the Croatian Football League, as noted by MacedonianFootball.com. His previous teams, FK Rabotnichki and GFK Tikvesh, are currently ranked 3rd and 9th, respectively, in the league standings, while FC Shkupi holds the 6th position.
Initially, FC Shkupi announced via Facebook that Lazarov was “out of danger”but required intensive care due to burn injuries sustained during the fire.
The club expressed its deep sorrow over the loss, extending condolences to Lazarov’s family with the following remark:
“This is a huge loss to our club, his teammates, and the entire football community. Words are small to describe the pain we are feeling right now, in this tragedy – one of the biggest hit by our club in its history.”
In addition to Lazarov, reports indicate that 18-year-old goalkeeper Damjan Taneski also lost his life in this tragic fire. Taneski, known for his time with Mal Ajaks and previous teams including Kit-Go Pehcevo, Vardar Skopje, and Bregalnica, perished in the blaze.
As the situation unfolds, the only survivor from DNK is currently receiving treatment for injuries sustained during the incident. Interior Minister Pance Toskovski revealed that fifteen individuals, including the Pulse Club owner, have been detained as part of the investigation. Reports indicate that the nightclub lacked a valid operating license, raising serious questions about compliance with safety regulations.
Toskovski further noted that the detainees are being questioned on possible bribery and corruption, while Biljana Arsovska of the public prosecutor’s office mentioned that preliminary inspections revealed significant deficiencies in the club’s fire safety protocols, including the presence of a single exit.
As of now, no further updates have been made available regarding this tragic incident.