First ever Eurovision Song Contest winner Lys Assia dies aged 94

Swiss singer Lys Assia, shortly after winning the very first Eurovision Song Contest with her song 'Refrain'
Getty Images
Martin Coulter24 March 2018

The first ever winner of Eurovision, Lys Assia, has died aged 94, the competition organisers have announced.

Born Rosa Mina Scharer in Rupperswil, in the north of Switzerland, Ms Assia started her career as a dancer but soon turned to singing.

She is best known for winning the very first Eurovision Song Contest, held in Lugano, in her own country, in 1956.

She went on to represent Switzerland again in 1957 and 1958, though she did not reach the top spot on either occasion.

She attempted a comeback in 2011, putting forward her song "C'etait ma vie" in the Swiss national selection but failing to make the cut.

She died on Saturday at Zurich's Zollikerberg Hospital, having recently turned 94, Eurovision announced.

The competition's organisers said: "We would like to use this opportunity to express our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Lys Assia."

Additional reporting by the Press Association

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